Voyage of ti- 







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44 



Voyage of 

A Cabin Boy s Story 

By 

Egbert Bull Smith 



» 




NEW YORK 
1908 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two GoDiss Received 

JAN 2 1909 

Copyrignt tntry 

V\c>v. Ujno'J 

CLASS (X. XXc, No, 

I copy' i. 



^.• 



Copyright, 1908 

BY 

Egbkrt Bull Smith 



Printed for the Author by 

Albert B. King & Co. 

New York 



%0 

%^t ^onm People ot Port Jefferson 

mf\o Eobe tilt &ea 

^W 3oo^ ot %taM 10 

Mttctionsittlv 

SDeliicateli 



preface 



THIS book contains an account of a three 
years' cruise — including two years on the 
coast of China and Japan. It is a cabin 
boy's story, extending over the period between 
September 1st, 1858, to October 13th, 1861, on 
board the bark "Two Sisters;" Capt. Benjamin. 

The author has been blind more than thirty- 
one years, and it has been through much 
patience and perseverance that he has com- 
pleted this work. Scarcely a page of it was 
written, however, without invoking Divine aid. 

The readers will, undoubtedly, find errors, 
but they will be indulgent when they remember 
the great disadvantage under which it has been 
written. 

I am indebted to Alexander George Findlay's 
Sailing Directory, third edition, for some of the 
descriptive matter. 

Respectfully submitted by the Author, 

EGBERT BULL SMITH, 

Port Jefferson, Long Island, 
New York. 



Contents 



Page 

I My Home and Its Surroundings - " - - 11 

II Hopes and Fears - 24 

III My Determination 27 

IV Shipped on Clipper Bark "Two Sisters" with 

Captain Benjamin for a Voyage to Shang- 
hai, China and Back to New York - - 31 

V Leaving Home - 37 

VI Sailed From the Port of New York for Shang- 

hai, China -------45 

VII A Description of the Ship - - - - 58 

VIII From New York to the Equator - - - 71 

IX From the Equator to the Cape of Good Hope 137 

X From the Cape of Good Hope to the Strait 

of Malacca - 199 

XI From the Strait of Malacca to Shanghai - 241 

XII A Month in the Port of Shanghai - - 295 

XIII First Year on the Coast of China and Japan 339 

XIV Second Year on the Coast of China and Japan 428 

XV Loading for New York . . . . 479 

XVI Homeward Bound. From Shanghai to Anjer 490 

XVII From Anjer to the Cape of Good Hope - 513 

XVIII From the Cape of Good Hope to New York 524 

XIX Conclusion - - 549 



Popage of ttje Ctoo ^ister^ 



Chapter I. 

^V ^ome and 110 &uttountiina:0. 

Our home circle consisted of my mother, two younger 
sistci^s, and a brother, three years my senior. My father 
was absent from home, far away in the gold fields of Cali- 
fornia. Our home, a humble, yet neat and comfortable 
dwelling, was situated on the main road running east and 
west, halfvv'ay between two villages, located at the ex- 
treme end of a beautiful and picturesque bay, adjacent to 
Long Island Sound. It was a story and a-half high, 
painted white, with a red roof, making it quite conspicu- 
ous for some distance around. 

The thoroughfare east and west of us was lined on 
either side with hedg"erows, which we children had oc- 
casion to explore frequentl)^ in search of balls, arrows, 
and other things belonging to a boy's and g'irl's stock of 
playthings ; also for hens' nests. Back of these hedgerows 
were grain fields, gardens or pasture lands. During the 
suminer months the highway was very picturesque ; in 
the rear, yellow grain, g'reen gardens or cattle grazing 
quietly. On either side were fragrant and beautifully 
tinted blossoms without number, yellow and variegated 
l:)Utterflies darting hither and thither, busy bees and other 
insects with their activit}^ and continual hum, and many 
birds of different species, filling the air with their melody, 
"without money and without price." 



12 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters.''' 

On our side of the hedgerow, a well kept vegetable 
garden could be seen. My mother took the most promi- 
nent part in planting and caring for it, with the help of 
brother and myself after school hours and on Saturdays. 
My brother became a valuable helper, but I never had 
much success in gardening. I acted as salesman, however, 
going before school hours into the village east of us, with 
a basket filled with lettuce, radishes, cucumbers and other 
vegetables in their season. The proceeds of my sales de- 
frayed the expense of preparing the ground and buying 
the seeds. 

We also kept chickens, turkeys, pigs and sometimes a 
cow, which made it necessary for us to have a field of 
corn which, after having the ground prepared and some as- 
sistance in planting, we would then 'tend and, in due 
time, gather. My brother and I, for our own amusement, 
would sometimes keep rabbits, of which, alas, the cats 
made too frequently sad havoc. The woodpile was especi- 
ally under our immediate supervision, which duty I evaded 
as often as possible, though the opportunity seldom, if 
ever, occurred. My little sisters had their duties to per- 
form in household affairs, and took delight in their flower 
gardens. My brother and I were always detailed at the 
proper time to assist them in preparing the ground, by 
turning up the soil with a spade. My mother, too, was 
fond of flowers, she always showed a lively interest in all 
the innocent amusements of her children; while at the 
same time, she lovingly watched over them and cared for 
them in sickness and in health, so far as possible with 
the means at her command, and well did she, with heart 
and mind and strength, perform her duty in the fear of 
God. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 13 

Of course, boys and girls must, necessarily, have time 
for play as well as for work, which fact our mother never 
failed to recognize. A short distance on either side of 
our home were neighbors who had their full quota of 
children of about the same ages. We visited one another 
often, but not quite so frequently, perhaps, as we might 
have desired, especially during the vacation season. 

The seat of learning for this vicinity was situated 
about a mile distant, to the west of us. Some part of the 
way was quite lonesome, but we generally had company to 
and from school, a little too much, sometimes, to enable 
us to make the best time on our way home, especially dur- 
ing the season of playing ball and marbles. The district 
fathers were careful to engage competent instructors, 
every parent paying a small fee for each child. Can it be 
possible that one should ever forget the little red school- 
house with the woodshed on the east end, the faithful and 
patient teacher, the boys and the girls? "There the 
orchard yonder, here the deep old fashioned well with its 
green moss-covered bucket." The memory of these, even 
to this day, thrills me as no tongue can tell. 

I had an eventful experience one day at the old well. 
The good fathers, in committee assembled, resolved that 
the children should no longer drink from the "old moss- 
covered bucket" or from the trough "like dumb driven 
cattle." but that a tin dipper should be provided. 

In due time the new dipper was installed, not fastened 
with a small chain to the well curb, but simply hung up 
on a nail. In those days it was not deemed possible that 
a child would be so careless as to run off with the dipper 
or let the dipper run away from him. But one day I ran 



14 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

to the old well to slack my thirst, pulled up the "moss-cov- 
ered bucket," filled to the brim, and eagerly seized from 
ofif its nail the new dipper, when lo ; through some unfore- 
seen cause, that bright, new, tin dipper escaped from my 
hands and proceeded, ding! dong! ding! dong! down the 
well. It filled and sank to the bottom. .\las, for me, my 
hopes and ambitions went down also, and even to this 
day, I can seem to hear the echo of that sound, "ding! 
dong!'' as that tin dipper went down the well. Of course, 
this great calamit}^ was forthAvith communicated to the 
teacher, by some of the boys and girls, who, by the way, 
had a peculiar method of their own, though strictly in 
accord with human nature, of expressing their sympathy 
for a playmate who may have "fallen in life's battle." To 
be sure just such tale-bearers have lived and died in all 
ages, as well as the present. 

NoAv, the actual cost to the school district for the use- 
ful source through which flowed all the water power nec- 
essary to run the institution, both for students and faculty, 
was exactly six cents, and the nail was its only security. 
Immediately after school was called for the afternoon ses- 
sion, court was convened and I, John Smith, was brought 
to trial. The charge against me was that, carelessly or 
purposely, I had permitted the new tin dipper to fall out 
of my hand into the well. I pleaded guilty to the first 
charge, carelessness, but firmly defended myself against 
the second charge, purposely. The witnesses were about 
evenly divided, but the teacher. Miss Alida L. Brown, 
whose duty it was to act as both judge and jury, sustained 
the whole charge and maintained that the defendant was 
purposely careless. In vain I protested that the act was 
not intentional and pleaded earnestly that the case be dis- 
missed on the ground that the offense committed was 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 15 

purely accidental. My motion was denied, inasmuch as 
the "laws of the Medes and Persians" (the decision of 
the school-teacher), "could not be altered." The teacher 
proceeded at once to pronounce sentence, as follows : I, 
John Smith, promise, here and now, that on the following 
morning I would bring to the teacher either a new tin dip- 
per or six cents in cash, and, in default of such promise, 
I must remain that xery afternoon after school and be 
punished. I earnestly appealed from the decision, as I 
had not any bank account, and I knew also that six cents 
would be a serious draft on our family treasury; / zuas 
zvilling to promise almost anything, but how to perform, 
I knew not. My appeal, however, was denied, and I was" 
doomed to accept the inevitable. I was sent to my seat, 
court adjourned and the students resumed their regular 
studies, but I meditated all that afternoon, my head filled 
with tin dippers, the old well, six cents and PUNISH- 
MENT. 

As the hours went slowly by I imagined that I could 
feel a strange, peculiar sensation in the extremitv of mv 
forearm (for the information of my young readers I will 
state that I was born and brought up during the ferrule 
age). The long afternoon came to an end at last. After 
the school was dismissed, I was called up to the front. 
While ray sentence was not commuted, I believe e^•en to 
this day that my punishment was much mitigated. No 
questions were asked, however, or advanced, but as the 
faithful teacher proceeded to administer justice, I had 
an inkling that she was sharing with me a portion of mv 
burden. After it was all over, and as T now had the mat- 
ter fully in hand, T was set at liberty and my nu'nd soon 
resumed its normal condition. 



1 6 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

I want to tell you, boys and girls, that children in 
those days were not little angels, anymore than they are 
now, but it was not thought necessary to have officers 
of the law to look after us, for a case of "playing hookey" 
seldom occurred ; yet, I, one day, did commit the deed. It 
came about in this way. I had the misfortune to be born 
with an affliction which has followed me, more or less, 
all mv life up to the present moment. Of course, I was 
in no wise responsible for it, yet it was always a source 
of mortification to me, especially in my childhood days. 
Boys and girls, like those who so eagerly testified against 
me in the dipper case, seldom lost an opportunity of in- 
forming me of the fact, which information was not at all 
necessary, for the realization of it was ever before me. 
It was the custom in the schools of those days, at the 
opening of the morning session, to read from God's word. 
We would all stand opposite our seats, facing each other, 
forming a hollow square, the teacher standing in the 
center of the space at the bottom, and the primary de- 
partment sitting on their little low benches in the same 
order, directly in front of us. Each one standing would 
read in turn their respective verses, the boj'-s on the south 
side and west end and the girls on the north side. There 
was a continuous desk running around the south, west 
and north sides of the room and our seats were long 
benches without backs. I sat generally near the south- 
east corner opposite a window, a few feet from the in- 
side door. Those in the primary department were more 
fortunate; their benches were fitted with backs. 

One cloudy morning, which seemed especially dark, 
to me, knowing that I could not possibly see to read my 
verse from the little black testament that we used, I 
dreaded to make the attempt. It did not occur to me that 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



I might have been excused, but the old feeHng was re- 
vived in me that somehow I was to blame for it all, so I 
determined to pass the school by, which I did. I went 
down to the stores around the shore, and wandered about 
until the noon hour, and then slowly came to the school 
grounds and joined myself to the boys there at play. That 
afternon I attended school, as usual. No one ever called 
me to account for this misdemeanor, although my mother, 
brother and sisters knew that I had been absent from 
school that morning. The teacher and students also 
knew that I was not there; perhaps all of them guessed 
the reason why. 

I have stated before that my father was in California. 
We received letters from him, from time to time, indeed, 
he had provided the comfortable new home in which we 
were living since his absence from us. I was always look- 
ing for him, and never came from school but what I 
hoped to find him at home. He did come; but not until 
many ^^ears had come and gone. I little thought then 
that when I had grown to be a man, and was on my way 
around the world for the second time, I would meet him 
in his little cabin home, in the gold fields of California. 
But so it happened. One afternoon we came home from 
school, as usual, and found that a friend of our father, 
direct from California, and from the very camp where he 
was working, had called during the day. Father had sent 
by him a present for each of us. My brother and I each 
received a gold pen and pencil in a beautiful gold case. 
My sisters each a gold ring and twenty-five cent pieces, 
coined in gold. Mother was remembered more substan- 
tially. He also sent us bits of free gold, diagrams of 
some mines, and sketches of implements and machinery 
used in mining. That day was a high day with us all. 



Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 



It is needless to say that after all my Avanderings I still 
have iny gold cased pen and pencil. My father also prom- 
ised that vdien he came home he would bring me a real 
Indian bow and arrow. Well, the bow and arrow never 
came, because I went to him ; however, the anticipation 
of receiving it Avas as much pleasure as the actual posses- 
sion would have been. Yet, after all that is said and done, 
boys then, as boys now, liked to possess things once in a 
while, 

A great change has taken place around about us, no 
more humming or buzzing- of the insect life and activities 
in the hedgerows; no more green foliage and fragrant 
blossoms ; no more yellow or variegated winged butterflies, 
flitting hither and thither ; no birds on the bough or on the 
wing, making the air ring with their melodies ; no grain 
waving in the fields. All about was cold, barren and ap- 
parently dead, but we children were generally contented. 
Therefore, "December was as pleasant as May" for us, 
especially about Christmas time, for of all the days, the 
day most blest was Christmas day. Why is it, boys and 
girls, that all over the Christian world it is considered to 
be the best, the most gladsome day in all the year ? Is it 
not because of God's great gift of His Son to all nations, 
peoples and tongues? If there are any of the millions of 
boys and girls in this wide world to whom Christmas is 
not a gladsome day, it is because they do not know that a 
Savior has been born. The meaning of it all was ex- 
plained to us in language as simple as a mother's love 
could make it. With what eagerness and earnest expecta- 
tion we would hang up, near the fireplace, one of our very 
best stockings with a determined purpose to watch for old 
Santa the whole night long, if necessary, so that we might 



A Cabin Bov's Story. 19 

be sure to see him when he came. But somehow, he al- 
ways managed to come and go, just when we were dream- 
ing. Perhaps his sleigh was not as large as it is in these 
days and could not bring as many things, yet he was just 
as good and kind, and just as generous with what he had 
then, and he brought as much happiness as he does now. 

In addition to the holiday pleasures, we had our coast- 
ing and skating, snow forts to build and snow balling to 
do. During these winter months, it was mostly all play 
and very little work, with the exception of going on 
errands, and the wood pile, which was always in evidence, 
as I have previously stated. 

It was a delight to attend school during this season of 
the year, and the old, long, box-shaped stove, which stood 
in the center of the school room, was especially attractive 
to us. School being called, we Avould come in, after 
handling the snow freely, and the nearer we got to the 
old stove, the more our fingers would ache. Many were 
the discussions that were held among the boys in the old 
wood-house which was attached to the school building. 

The evenings were usually spent at home, and from 
time to time we would crack walnuts, pop corn and make 
candy. M^other would frequently read for us, after 
which we generally had lessons to look after. Sabbath 
evenings, we attended church, occasionally, especially if 
"protracted meetings" were being held. The church was 
a mile distant to the east from our home. On the oppo- 
site side of the street, just back of the hedgerow a minia- 
ture lake was formed in the fall of the year because of 
the heavy rains. Of course, this little lake was frozen 
over during the winter. It was about thirty by three 
hundred feet, and many were the happy hours which my 
brother and I spent upon it. We had a back fitted on one 



20 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/"" 

of our sleds. One would get on, with plenty of wraps to 
make himself comfortable, while the other would furnish 
the motive power and, taking turns, go from end to end 
of the pond, back and forth, time and time again. 

I must tell you how each of us became the owner of 
a store sled. I have stated before that we sometimes 
raised a field of corn. The first part of the winter in 
question corn was worth a dollar a bushel and sleds were 
being sold for a dollar each. One Saturday, mother told 
us that we could shell two bushels of corn and take it and 
buy each of us a sled. We had to shell it by hand, so we 
got a spade and a shovel and went to work with a will. 
It is needless to say that the corn was at the store in good 
time, rhe sleds were there, too, all painted brightly, each 
with its name on in fancy letters. But, alas ! it happened 
that mother had an account at the store. The clerk said 
to us, "Tell your mother we give her credit for two dol- 
lars." That Credit business rather staggered my brother 
and me. However, we retired in good order and consulted 
with each other, and thus reasoned : "All honest bills 
should be paid as soon as possible." But mother had said 
that we might buy sleds with that corn and that was law 
for us. Then we took courage and went again to the 
store and said to the clerk: "We don't want credit for 
that corn, we want sleds." The kind old storekeeper was 
consulted and said: "Well, my boys, sleds you shall 
have," and sleds we received. The name of m)^ sled was 
"Speed," and the name of my brother's, "Victor." Our 
hearts were full of joy and gladness as we 'took them 
home, envied by every boy and girl we met. Our sisters 
were promised the free use of them occasionally. That 
was a great day for my brother and me, never to be for- 
Sfotten. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 21 

Everything that a bo}'- has is hable to meet with some 
accident, and so it happened with my sled. One day dur- 
ing the following winter it broke down. I repaired it in 
part, so that it was not put entirely out of commission. 
It happened that one of our neighbors was a carpenter 
and had a shop down in the village to the east of us. On 
a certain Saturday I took my sled down to his shop to 
get an estimate of the cost of getting it repaired. I had 
not the slightest idea, however, of having the work done; 
as I had only three cents. But, with this amount of capital 
in my possession, I thought I was justified in making the 
inquiry at least. The old man looked the sled over and 
said: "Well — some very bad breaks." "Yes, sir. How — 
how much will it cost to fix it?" I stammered. "Well," 
said he, "I think I can fix it up all right for you," and 
without answering my question, he actually began the 
work, and as he worked, hummed an old church hymn. 

I mused within myself, thus : "I wanted my sled re- 
paired very much, and I did not have nearly enough 
money to pay for it ; my only three cents was in evidence 
to this fact. Now," I said to myself, "I asked him how 
much it would cost, but he did not tell me, and if he had 
a mind to go on with the work and take the chances for 
his pay — well, I am sure I cannot help it." And so I 
waited, patiently, saying in thought, "Let the good work 
go on." Occasionaly he would ask me a question about 
school, our home or about some local affairs. After wait- 
ing and watching an hour and a half, he pronounced it 
finished, all complete, as strong as ever it was. I ex- 
pressed myself as being much pleased and with as much 
assurance as possible, I said : "Mr. Jones, how much is it?" 
He took off his glasses and quietly laid them down on his 
bench, then turning he looked on me a moment and said : 



22 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

'T guess about three cents will pay for the screws I put 
in it, that will be all." Of course, I was much surprised, 
and as soon as I had recovered from my astonishment, I 
got my three cents together and stepped up and paid him 
like a man. Perhaps he knew something about my cir- 
cumstances and charged me accordingly. The dear old 
man has long- since passed into his eternal home, but I 
cannot forget his kindness to me that day. 

How eagerly we watched for the first fall of snow. 
We were a happy lot of children and, as I have said be- 
fore, the winter, as well as the summer, brought to us 
many pleasures. "Consider the power and the weakness 
of the snow; can anything be gentler? A child's hand 
catches and subdues it ; ere he can see it, it is gone. The 
babe can master that which masters mankind. Boys gath- 
er it, it is submissive. All things seem stronger than the 
snow, new born. Yet, one night weaving, it covers the 
earth through wide latitude and longitude with a garment 
that all the looms of earth could not have furnished. One 
day more and it sinks the fences underneath, obliterates 
all roads, and levels up the whole landscape as spade and 
plow, and ten thousand time ten thousand engineers and 
workmen could not do. It lays its hand upon the mighty 
engine and stops its wheels. It stands before our har- 
bors and lets doAvn a white darkness that baffles the pilot 
and checks the returning ship. It mounts the hills and 
mountains and gathers its army without the sound of a 
drum or trumpet, until the day' comes when it charges 
down, and who can withstand its coming in battle array? 
What power is this in the host of weakness ! So the 
thoughts of good men, though small and silent, gather 
slowly and at last become masters of time and of the ages. 
If such be the power of God's weakness, what must be 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 23 

the almightiness of God, the thunderings of his power. 
Consider that the descent of snow has relations not alone 
thus to fancy, but it is also a worker. It has become a 
proverb that the snow, fresh and newly fallen, is the poor 
man's fertilizer. It gathers again the waste material of 
earth and spreads it with equal distribution over the land 
and brings back to them their richness without the stroke 
of hammer or the sound of turning wheel. There is more 
going on under the silent snow than in all the smithies, 
all the factories upon the earth. The power of God upon 
the natural earth is silently underworking. Not simply 
cold and chill, and waste and barrenness, but all forms of 
beauty, all promise of strength and all hope for the com- 
ing summer. So may our winter of trouble be to us." 



24 Voyage of '^''The Two Sisters." 



Chapter II. 

^ope0 and ^eat0 

At different points along the shores of the bays near 
my home were located shipyards, and in them were built 
some of the fastest vessels that ever wore canvas and some 
of the finest looking crafts in the world, not racing ma- 
chines, but sea-going vessels. I will mention, as a sample, 
the yacht, "Wanderer," which was built about fifty years 
ago. One vessel especially excited my curiosity more than 
any other. It was being built in the yard of Mr. Bacom, 
at Setauket, and was nearly completed. It was easy for 
me, during the school days, to slip down to the yard dur- 
ing the noon hour and with other boys play "hide and 
seek" about her decks and cabins, hoping all the time that 
some day, I might sail in such a ship, but I was afraid that 
time would never come. I little thought then that within 
a few months my hopes would be realized, my doubts be- 
come certainties and my fears, assurance. 

It was about this time that my uncle promised to take 
my brother and me with him on one of his trips across 
Long Island Sound. My turn was to come first. I made 
great reckoning of the event. At length the day came. 
Mother made cake and baked beans for me, and fitted me 
out in general and I embarked. The vessel was loaded 
with wood, and bound for New Haven, Conn. We ar- 
rived in due time, and after disposing of the wood, took a 
cargo of oyster shells and returned home. The whole trip 
occupied about a week. I enjoyed it greatly, and as I was 
a guest of my uncle, who was both owner and captain, on 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 25 

this little trip, it greatly increased my ambition for a sea- 
faring life. 

Now, it happened that one of my schoolmates, whom I 
will call Carl, had engaged himself to one of our local sea 
captains as cabin boy and had actually sailed for Genoa, 
Italy, far away across the Atlantic ocean and up the Medi- 
terranean sea. Far away, sure enough, so it seemed to his 
playmates then, and so it was in those days. Many were 
the long talks we boys had together about Carl. Would 
he fall overboard and be devoured by sharks? Would 
the vessel be wrecked on some lonely island and the crew 
be eaten by cannibals? Again what curiosities he would 
see in the far away land, the mighty fortress of Gibraltar, 
and the great Vesuvius. In short, would he ever get back 
home again and tell us about all the wonders of the deep. 

There was a rumor through the village of Setauket 
that the vessel in which Carl sailed had arrived at the port 
of New York. Of course, we boys were very anxious to 
meet him and see what sort of a looking chap he was after 
being a sailor boy for over five months on a voyage to the 
old world and back. On the following Saturday after 
Carl's arrival in New York, I was sent to the village to 
buy some groceries. As I drew near to the stores I no- 
ticed a crowd of men and boys standing around, and I 
knew something must be up. As I came up I beheld Carl, 
standing in the midst of a circle of inquiring friends. To 
us, boys, he looked every inch a hero. After expressing 
my delight in seeing him home again, I said: "Did you 
see any whales ?" "Yes," he said, 'T have seen schools of 
them." As I withdrew from the crowd I overheard an 
old man, who was standing there looking at Carl, say: 
"Well, he looks like a boy that's seen foreign parts." As 



26 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters." 

I returned home that afternoon with my basket of grocer- 
ies, I repeated to myself, "He looks like a boy that's seen 
foreign parts." Of course, I told them all at home whom 
I had seen, what was said and what I was thinking about : 
— that I might, ere long, go away on some ship as cabin 
boy. My sisters looked grave and said : "Carl is three 
years older than you are." Mother observed, as she went 
about quietly preparing the supper, "Well, my son, I do 
not know what is in store for you yet." My brother, who 
was about the same age as Carl, encourag^ed me and said 
to us all : "If he can get a good chance to go on a voyage, 
and if he does not like it, he will be contented to remain 
at home and go to school." 

Carl continued to be THE BOY of the village for a 
long time. To us boys, the following quotation seemed fit- 
ted to him : "If any man can preach a sermon, or write a 
book or make a mouse trap better than his neighbor, 
though he build his house in the v^oods, the world will 
make a beaten path to his door." And many were the 
boys that called on him, whom he received on his front 
fence or around in his woodshed. Of course, all these 
things increased the longing desire which had gotten hold 
upon me to see foreign parts. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 27 



Chapter III. 
9^V 2Df termination 

The vessel in wliich, while building, I was especially 
interested had been completed, launched and towed to 
New York to be rigged. I had made great reckoning of 
seeing her with masts, yards and sails, in fact with all her 
rigging on complete, but 1 was at this time disappointed. 
She was named the "Two Sisters." I Avas determined to 
know more about her or about some other vessel in the 
near future. 

The "Two Sisters" was now on her first voyage 
bound for Mobile, Alabama, and back to New York. 
The captain, on his last voyage up the Mediterranean 
Sea to Italy, had engaged an Italian lad as cabin boy, 
of wdiom he became very fond. His name was Keiff. 
Of course Keiff was duly installed as cabin and 
sailor boy in general on board the "Two Sisters." I 
thought perhaps that Keiff would soon graduate into 
a real sailor before the mast, and that then I might 
be fortunate enough to secure his position as cabin 
boy on board the "Two Sisters," as I had met him 
before and both of us being 5^oung we would be 
company for each other. So I reckoned within my- 
self and planned. But "man proposes and God dis- 
poses." And so it came to pass, not in my way, 
however, but in God's way. 

The "Two Sisters" had arrived in the home port 
of New York from Mobile, Alabama. A successful 



28 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

voyage financially no doubt, but one of the crew was 
missing. Who could it be? It was one who had 
not a loved one in all this new world to mourn for 
him. But there was a mother in a far away sunny 
land whose heart ere long would be rent and torn 
because her boy had been laid away in the great 
ocean cemetery, until the sea shall give up its dead. 
Yes, it was Keiff, the little Italian boy who had fal- 
len from the mainroyal-yard. He fell across the 
starboard forebrace, and from thence inboard onto 
the deck. He uttered not a word. He was mortally 
injured, and in a few moments took his departure to 
that beautiful land, the nearby "home of the soul." 
We trust that the mother's heart was comforted by 
the Comforter. 

The captain of the "Two Sisters," who lived in the 
village of Setauket, was spending a few days at his 
home while the cargo of his vessel was being dis- 
charged. It was my purpose to meet him, if possible, 
but it was not my intention, at this time, to endeavor 
to get a berth with him on board of his ship, for 
he had said, "After my experience with the boy 
Keifif, I do not care to take any other boy on board, 
for the present at least." Well, my desire to meet 
him was gratified. I had occasion one day after 
school to go into his brother's store. The captain 
was there and he was talking with some gentlemen 
present about his last voyage. I overheard him make 
the following statement: "It may seem like a ghost 
story to you at first, and so it appeared to us, but 
like all other ghost stories, it was simply cause and 
effect, and as such, easily explained; but I am free 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 29 

to confess that I never was so frightened in all the 
days of my life. The officers and men stood like 
statues bolted down to the deck. I will tell you how 
all this scare came about. The poor boy was buried 
from the quarter deck. At the time, it was a dead 
calm, the sea being perfectly smooth and clear. One 
could see many fathoms below the surface. Every- 
thing was ready, and as I finished reading the burial 
service, I raised my right hand as a signal, and the 
body of the lad, with a hundred pound weight at the 
feet, was launched into the deep. Our eyes could 
not help but follow the remains, incased in a white 
canvas shroud, as it sank deeper and deeper down 
into the depths below; but just a moment after it 
had disappeared from view our eyes still fixed on the 
spot, it suddenly reappeared in sight again and slow- 
ly yet steadily continued rising. What was it? Was 
it a ghost? No. It was not a ghost, it was the real 
body with the hundred pound weight attached com- 
ing back to us. What could it all mean? Was it 
a resurrection? So it appeared to us. Our hearts 
came up into our throats. I tell you gentlemen, the 
body actually came to the surface and stood up out 
of the water, up to the knees. It remained in that 
position only a moment or two and then sank, gradu- 
ally at first and then faster and faster. It went 
down and out of sight, never to rise again until time 
shall be no more. Not a word was spoken; we all 
seemed paralyzed with fear. The ship was standing 
comparatively still, when suddenly a fresh breeze 
sprang up and, as quick as a flash, there came into 
my mind the cause of all our fear. I said to the 



30 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

men, 'Men we did not cut any holes in the top of 
the shrond to allow the air to escape, and so the 
confined air brought the body back to us again.' 
Everyone quickly recognized the fact. The spell was 
broken. The sails were then trimmed, and the ship 
headed on her course. 

"Well ! it is not an unusual experience to lose a 
man at sea, either by sickness or by accident ; but 
for a young lad, as Keiff was, to go out of the world 
in that way, seems rather rough. No ! No ! I do 
not want any more boys with me for a while." The 
captain's last sentence seemed to be especially ad- 
dressed to me, yet he did not know anything about 
my plans ; certainly the captain's statement of the 
death and burial of Keiff, also his last remark, took 
off the keen edge of my enthusiasm, but I was still 
determined to watch and wait and to take advantage 
of the very first opportunity available. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 31 



Chapter IV. 

fefi^pped on Board t^t 15atque "'^too m0itt0" toitl) 
Captain TBmiamin 

The "Two Sisters" had gone to sea again. This 
was her second voyage. She was bound for Mobile, 
Alabama, and back to New York as before. My 
brother, in talking over the situation, reiterated his 
former suggestion, namely, that I had better go 
with Captain Parker in his sloop ; as he had expressed 
his willingness to take me. As I had been to New 
Haven already on board of a sloop, my brother's 
suggestion did not meet with my approval, especially 
after I had heard Carl tell of his experience and 
what he had seen, and then I thought of the "Two 
Sisters." She was only sailing to one of our south- 
ern ports, which did not quite come up to my ex- 
pectations, as I had heard the old man comment on 
Carl's appearance after his return : "Wall ! he looks 
like a boy that has seen foreign parts." 

So the time went on. Summer had come and gone. 
Autumn was at hand. The whippoorwills had sung 
their song as usual. The katy-dids were about half 
through with their concerts. My brother and I had 
gathered our little crop of potatoes, beans, corn and 
apples. Bean poles had been stacked up together for 
future use, and so on. The fall term of school had 
begun with the new teacher installed. I missed my 
former teacher very much. Our present teaclier was 



32 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

a lady from our own town. Everyone was much 
pleased with her. Once in a while I would run down 
to the stores at noon time to hear the news, if there 
were any. One day I heard something that greatly 
surprised me. The "Two Sisters" had arrived from 
Mobile, had discharged, was even then taking on 
board a cargo for China, and expected to sail in a 
few weeks. This news did not arouse my expecta- 
tion, for I remembered what the captain had said. 

A few days after I had heard this news, the captain 
came home for a day or two. There was a rumor 
about the village that Captain Benjamin's wife ex- 
pected to go with him on the voyage to China. Now, 
my brother was much more of a philosopher than 
I. He argued that if Mrs. Benjamin was going on 
the voyage with her husband, he might reconsider 
his former decision about boys. Up to this time my 
mother had not given her full consent for me to go 
away from home, even if I had an opportunity of- 
fered me. Of course, we all had talked the matter 
over, several times before, but when I asked for a 
definite answer she said that she could not tell, but 
promised that if I saw the captain, and if he said he 
would take me, then she would consult with him 
and decide. It was her purpose to do that which 
would be for my best good, and to trust in God for 
divine wisdom to decide aright. By this time the 
captain had gone to New York, but was expected 
home again for a few days. The question then 
would be settled for the present, at least. Those 
were anxious days for all of us, especially for my 
mother and me. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



33 



I was born on February 8, 1846. It was now Sep- 
tember 8, 1858, consequently my age at this time 




The Captain. 



was just twelve years and seven months. I did not 
then realize how hard it was for my mother to come 
to a decision. The captain had returned home again. 
The very next afternoon, after school, I went down 
to his brother's store to see him, and to ask him if 
he wanted to engage a cabin boy. I set out that 



34 Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters." 

afternoon as brave as a lion, at least I thought I 
was. But when I met him face to face, my courage 
failed me, and while I was considering the matter 
he departed. I went home disappointed and dis- 
gusted with myself for having failed in my very first 
attempt. My mother and sisters seemed rather 
pleased, they thought the question about my going 
away was settled for this time at least; but my 
brother, as usual, came to my rescue. 

*T will go and ask the captain for you," he said. 

"I wish you would, if mother is willing," I replied, 
and as she had consented for me to go, of course 
she did not object, so off he went. As it was not 
yet quite sundown, he was home again before dark. 
He had seen and talked with the captain, surely 
enough, and he had said: 

"I want a cabin boy, and if your mother is willing 
I will take John, and if it is possible I wish to see 
your mother and John this evening to talk the mat- 
ter over with them, for I will not be home again 
until a few days before sailing." 

My brother's message from the captain was a sur- 
prise to us all. While I hoped that it would be so, 
yet the news came suddenly to me, after all, and I 
was not as pleased as I had imagined I would be. Af- 
ter supper had been cleared away, my mother, my 
younger sister and I, set out for the captain's home, 
which was about a mile to the west of us. 

On our way, while I was thinking seriously about 
the matter, my mother asked me, "Are you sure you 
want to go away from home?" 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 35 

"Yes, mother," I said. "I want to go, but not for 
the sake of leaving home, for I love my home." 
I v^as just about ready then to give up the whole 
thing and go back home again, but I did not. 

After reaching the captain's house and a few pre- 
liminary remarks, we went straight to business, at 
least my mother and the captain did. He said : 

"I intend to take Mrs. Benjamin with me on the 
voyage. We think the boy will be useful about the 
cabin, and if you are willing for him to go, he may 
have the berth. Of course, I will take good care 
of him. I will see to it that he is not unnecessarily 
exposed, such as going aloft or being on deck in 
bad weather, etc." 

In answering, my mother called his attention to 
the fact that I was very young- and that I would 
need encouragement, instruction and correction, and 
if Mrs. Benjamin would promise to care for me if 
I were sick, she would give her consent for her boy 
to go. Mrs. Benjamin was not present, but the cap- 
tain said there would be no question about that. ' So 
the agreement was made, the die was cast ! Able 
seamen's wages at that time were twelve dollars per 
month, ordinary seamen, eight dollars. My wages 
were put down at three dollars per month. 

The voyage was to extend from New York to 
Shanghai, China, and back to New York, and if noth- 
ing unusual happened would consume between eleven 
and twelve months. The captain, after giving us 
some instruction as to the clothing I would need, 
said: 



36 Voyage of "The Two Sisters.'' 

"I expect to sail on the twenty-third, which will 
be one week from to-day. John had better come on 
board Monday the twenty-second, so as to get used 
to things a little." He then invited my mother to 
come on board with me and remain until the ship 
went to sea. After all these things, we bade him 
good-night and departed. We did not talk much on 
the way home. My expectations were being realized 
rapidly. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 37 



Chapter V. 

You must know that leaving home for the first 
time to be gone a whole year or more is a great 
event in anyone's life, especially for a boy only twelve 
years and a-half old, and so it was to me, and not 
to me only but also to the rest of the family. My 
brother was the bravest of us all, yet he began to 
realize how much he would miss me. My sisters 
wondered if ever I would get home again. My 
mother was too busy in getting me ready to say very 
much, only about the things that I would need to 
make me comfortable while absent from her. There 
is not a person in the whole wide world but a mother, 
who would know just what her boy would need for 
such a long voyage ; and in-so-far as a loving heart 
and hand could provide, all the necessary things were 
made ready. Among other articles of clothing, a 
suit was made for me that was mounted with brass 
buttons, a sort of uniform. My neighbors, the boys 
and girls, pronounced it just about right. In addi- 
tion to all the necessary things, mother made for me 
a large cake. My brother made ready for me a bag 
of apples. 

My last day in the old, red school-house, a day 
never to be forgotten, came on the Friday previous 
to my departure, which took place on the following 



38 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

Monday. It was generally known among the chil- 
dren that this would be my last day at school; con- 
sequently, I was "the observed of all observers." I 
was not thinking so much about my present sur- 
roundings, however, but rather on the things which 
were past and gone, and of my future. Very many 
happy hours of school life, we had had together, not- 
withstanding the new tin dipper and similar experi- 
ences. We were never to meet again as school chil- 
dren. The teacher reminded them that I was going 
far away and that I would be gone a long time (it 
proved to be much longer than any of us expected) ; 
and bade them all to bid me farewell. Indeed, it 
was a long farewell for some of us, for ere I returned 
our beloved teacher and some of the boys and girls, 
had passed on to their eternal home. 

On may way to and from school that day in com- 
pany with my brother and sisters and others, we 
talked the matter over in detail, and as we passed 
by the familiar scenes we wondered what changes 
might take place before I would pass that way again. 
One little green triangular plot, formed by a road on 
each of the three sides, we boys had named "Fiddler's 
Green." We would often stop there on our way 
home from school and play a game at mumble peg. 

The next day being Saturday, one of the old family 
trunks had been brought down from the garret and 
made ready for the reception of all my earthly goods, 
at least all that I was to carry with me. My sled, 
ball and kite, with my other playthings, were to be 
kept intact for me during my absence. It is needless 
to say that my rnother guarded them with jealous 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 39 

care until I returned. All took a great interest in 
packing my trunk, which, to my mother especially, 
was a hard task to perform. Each one had a corner 
reserved for himself. Mother had the right hand 
upper corner, my sisters the lower corners and 
brother the upper left hand corner. At length, late 
in the afternoon, all things had been put in their re- 
spective places. Clothing for warm weather, clothing 
for cold weather, every day clothes and Sunday 
clothes. The corners also had been filled in with 
shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs, mufflers, caps, combs, 
brushes, a comfort bag, and other tokens to remind 
me of home and loved ones. In mother's corner, 
on the top of everything, she had placed her Bible, 
which not only expressed her interest in my spiritual 
welfare but also to call my attention directly to my 
heavenly Father's will concerning my eternal destiny. 
As far as possible everything now had been made 
ready for Monday morning. 

My last Sabbath at home was a bright and beauti- 
ful day. My brother and I attended church in the 
morning. A delicious dinner was in waiting for us 
on our return. Mother and the girls had prepared 
just the things I liked ordinarily, but my appetite 
that day, and the appetites of the others, were far 
below normal. Just to think of a boy's last dinner 
at home with mother, sisters and brother, to be gone 
for such a long time. The rest of the day was spent 
around the house, going up and down, out and in. 
Our neighbors came in during the afternoon and bade 
me good-bye. Some of my boy and girl friends also 
called and gave me a word of encouragement, which 



40 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/^ 

I greatly needed. One of them remarked how beau- 
tiful the day had been and called attention to the 
glorious sunset. Each expressed a desire that my 
future experience might be as bright as the day had 
been, and the end of my life as beautiful as the sunset 
scene, spread out before us. 

After thanking them all for their many expressions 
of earnest solicitude for my future welfare, the final 
good-byes were said and they departed. 

Our little family circle sat about the table during 
the evening, each of them making loving suggestions 
of advice and encouragement. As we children talked 
on, mother said but little, only expressing a loving 
thought now and then. We each noticed her anxiety 
and the strain which was going on in her mind. It 
was pictured on her countenance. No one but a 
mother in like circumstances can fully realize just 
what her feelings were during those days. Finally 
she said: 

"Well, children, it is getting late and the stage will 
be here for John and me bright and early to-morrow 
morning. We will read a chapter together and then 
go to our beds." As I kissed her good-night, I whis- 
pered, "Never mind, mother, bright days will come 
again." Many, many years have passed since that 
Sabbath, yet the many acts of kindness of friends 
and neighbors, and especially the blessed, loving fel- 
lowship of the home circle is still fresh in my memory. 

Mother called us at five o'clock in the morning. 
"Breakfast is ready," she said. She lingered a mo- 
ment and looked on my brother and me in bed to- 
gether. As mother and I were to leave at six o'clock, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



41 



we hustled into our clothes and got to the breakfast 
table as quickly as possible. The meal was partaken 
of in silence, and the silence expressed our thoughts 
and feelings at this time more adequately than words 
could have done. We had said all that we had to 
say during the previous evening. Mother gave a few 




Jack and His Mother. 

directions to my brother and sisters. They were to 
keep house during her absence, and lo ! ere we knew 
it, the stage was at the door. All of my baggage 
was quickly made secure on the rear end of the coach. 
Words fail me to tell of that parting scene ; all the 
loving intimacy of brother and sisters, all our hopes 
and fears concerning each other's future, were made 
manifest in that earnest look into each other's faces 



42 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

and lovingly expressed by the grasp of the hand and 
the good-bye kiss. The stage driver made some 
practical remarks about the weather and the condi- 
tion of the roads, and in a moment we were off. 
Home and all the past were left behind, and an en- 
tirely new experience was opening up before me. 

We were soon rattling through the village east of 
our home, taking up a passenger here and there. All 
familiar scenes were soon passed by; the passengers 
conversed with each other on the general topics of the 
day. My mother called my attention to objects of 
interest along the way. At length, after a ride of 
about twelve miles, we reached the railroad station. 
In a few minutes the train came thundering along, 
and in a moment we were on board and off for the 
great metropolis. This was my first experience on 
a railroad train, and as we went rushing on, every- 
thing appeared to me to be going the other way. 
We arrived at South Brooklyn in due time and were 
soon on the ferry boat crossing the East River. 
With the exception of my trip to New Haven with 
my uncle, I had never been five miles away from 
home. Everything was new and strange to me. A 
ringing of bells, blowing of whistles, the great ships 
that lay at the wharves on either side of the river, 
with their tall masts and square yards that seemed 
in the distance to be all tangled up together as trees 
in a thick forest. 

After landing, we soon found the "Two Sisters." 
She was lying at pier 32, East River. She was a gal- 
lant looking craft, a clip.per bark of about seven hun- 
dred tons burden, very noticeable among the sur- 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 43 

rounding shipping because of her graceful lines and 
lofty rig, having a main skysail yard across. Captain 
Benjamni was on board and received mother and me 
kindly. He introduced us to the first and second 
officers, Mr. Stover and Mr. Fletcher, also to the 
steward, Mr. Newton, who took charge of me as the 
cabin boy. Mother was entertained in the after 
cabin. A strange sensation came over me as I w^as 
taken from her control and became subject to a 
stranger. The steward spoke kindly, however, and 
led me to his stateroom, which I was to share with 
him, he occupying the lower berth, while I was to 
have the upper one. The room was in the forward 
cabin on the starboard side. He said, "You need 
not turn to until to-morrow morning. I suppose 
your mother will want to take you up-town this ai 
ternoon." Everything was real to him (that is, our 
immediate surroundings), but very, very unreal to 
me. After this, I rejoined my mother and the cap- 
tain said: 

"I expect to get out to sea to-morrow afternoon. 
Mrs. Benjamin will not come on board until to-mor- 
row; I will remain all night on shore." He then 
gave mother the freedom of the cabin for the after- 
noon and -evening. He also invited her to sail with 
us down the bay in company with others, assuring 
her that the tug-boat would bring them all back to 
a safe landing. As mother desired to go as far with 
me as possible, she gladly accepted the invitation. 

After dinner, mother and I went on shore and up 
into the city. She w^as somewhat accustomed to 
the surroundings, having lived here when a young 
woman. Everything was confusion to me. Large 



44 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

coaches rushing hither and thither over the rougl 
cobble stone pavement, each making as much noise 
as a railroad train. Great buildings and multitudes 
of people were in evidence everywhere. Mother and 
I had our pictures taken together. After buying a 
few things and seeing some of the sights, we went 
aboard the ship. 

After supper we spent a little time in looking about 
the decks and the cabins. Everybody had now gone 
on shore except the first officer, Mr. Stover. He was 
not very communicative and soon went to his room. 
My baggage had arrived and was put in its place. 
As I was to go on duty in the morning, mother 
opened my trunk and took out a suit of working 
clothes for me, and then had some conversation about 
our experience during the day. We were then very 
tired, and after prayers together, she arranged my 
berth which was to be my bed for the next three 
years to come, and seeing me safe in it, she carefully 
folded my shore suit, the suit which was mounted 
with the brass buttons, and laid it away under the 
other things in my trunk. After our good-night kiss, 
and one long lingering look into my face in which 
all her love for me was expressed, she slowly turned 
away and went to her room and I was alone, yes, in 
bed alone almost for the first time in my life and 
that, too, in a berth on board of a ship. How strange ! 
If my brother were here, we could not sleep together, 
the bed is so narrow. I am sure they miss me, they 
surely must be lonesome at home to-night; and so 
I mused. In a very short time I was asleep, and my 
first night on board the "Two Sisters" was a past 
experience. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 45 



Chapter VI. 

feailfd on t|)e IBatque tlEtoo M0tn& from tfie Pott of 
il^eto gotk bound (or &|)ana:!)ai, Cfiina 

The steward called me at five o'clock in the morn- 
ing and set me at work cleaning up the cabins. After 
the cleaning up process had been gone through, he 
took me to the pantry, which was very complicated, 
I thought, pigeon holes, lockers, closets and shelves, 
dishes of dififerent sizes and colors, lamps and many 
other things too numerous to mention. He told me 
what dishes were to be used for each meal; he then 
instructed me how to prepare the breakfast table. 

"That will do for the present," he said, "I will not 
tell you too much at one time." 

Soon my mother made her appearance. She told 
the steward that I might be slow in understanding 
some things, as the surroundings were entirely new 
to me. She hoped that he would be as patient with 
me as possible. 

"Oh, yes, madam, I will tutor him all right." This 
answer did not please her at all. However, he did 
not mean harshness, as his remark seemed to imply. 
Mother complimented me about the work I had al- 
ready done and assisted me in getting the table ready 
for breakfast. 

After breakfast was over and everything cleared 
away, mother and I went up on deck to look about 



46 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters." 

us. Ships there were in every direction, both great 
and small, some of one rig, some of another, tug- 
boats darting hither and thither, each one of them 
after something, but I could not see what in the 
world they were in such a hurry about. The wharf 
was filled with horses and trucks, boxes, barrels and 
bales and stevedores, all mixed up together. 

On board the "Two Sisters" all was hurry and 
bustle. The cargo had all been taken in. The crew 
had come on board in the morning and were now 
reaving off running rigging and bending sails. The 
hatches were being caulked and battened down. The 
small stores were being taken on board and put away 
in their respective places. I assisted the steward and 
cook in this work, my mother watching my every 
movement. The ship stores consisting of things too 
heavy to be handled by hand had been previously 
taken in and stored away. 

At this point Captain Benjamin came on board and 
announced that we would leave the wharf at one P. 
M. sharp and after the first ofifiicer, Mr. Stover had 
assured him that everything would be ready by noon, 
he went on shore, saying: "I will go and get my 
clearance papers and will be on board soon after 
dinner." 

Our cargo consisted of bales of cotton cloth. In 
addition we had on deck two heavy sticks of timber, 
each ninety feet in length, the butt ends of which 
were three feet square. They were placed one on 
either side, one butt end forward and the other aft. 
They had been previously secured with great care 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 47 

by chains and lashings, which consisted of cotton 
rope, which does not shrink when wet, nor stretch 
when dry, hke manilla rope. I overheard several 
remarks that the ship was loaded down very deep 
for such a long voyage. It was now half-past eleven 
A. M. The running rigging had been roved and 
the sails were bent. Mr. Stover said to the second 
officer: 

"Mr. Fletcher, the weather looks a bit hazy and 
the barometer is going down. I think we had bet- 
ter furl all of the light sails up snug, and tie up the 
topsails and lower sails temporarily, so that they will 
not hold us back while towing down the bay." 

At this time the steward ordered me to prepare 
the dinner table, which I did with mother's assist- 
ance. As soon as dinner was over and the cabins 
made tidy, the captain with Mrs. Benjamin and their 
friends came on board. I was introduced to Mrs. 
Benjamin as the cabin boy. She spoke kindly to 
me, saying: "We will get along nicely together, I 
think." Then noticing the expression of anxiety on 
my mother's face, she said : 

"Never mind, Mrs. Smith, we will all be glad when 
we get back home again, which will be a little less 
than one year, I hope." Mrs. Benjamin was an in- 
valid and hardly expected to see her earthly home 
again. 

It was a very unpleasant experience for Mrs. Ben- 
jamin to say good-bye to home and friends as well 
as for my mother and me to be separated from each 



48 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

other. By this time the guests, about twenty in all, 
were all on l)oar4. 

A few minutes before one o'clock the tug came 
alongside, and everything was ready. A hawser had 
previously been led from the bow and made fast with 
a slip line on the quarter, which is the extreme after 
part of the ship. The tug took the end of the 
hawser and exactly at one o'clock the ship began to 
move out of the slip. A number of longshoremen 
and friends of our crew, with other people, a large 
crowd in all, had gathered on the wharf, and as we 
were being pulled out into the stream, they gave 
us three cheers. The crew and our guests answered 
them. When we got out into the river, clear of 
everything, we let go the slip line that held the 
hawser to the quarter, and the tug boat soon got 
us straightened out and headed down the bay. Then 
we dipped our ensign three times, which signifies 
good-bye to everybody left behind. This was the 
twenty-third day of September, 1858. We passed 
many points of interest on our way down the bay. 
The most interesting to me was Fort Wadsworth. 
As we towed close under the walls, its guns pointing 
straight at us, it looked very warlike and dangerous. 
All hands were busy making everything secure about 
decks. 

In the meantime I was helping the steward in and 
about the cabins. After a while he said to me : "You 
can go now and see your mother, and after the tug 
leaves us you can pack all these spare chairs away 
in the after stateroom on the port side (the left-hand 



A Cabin Boy's Story, 



49 




50 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

side of the ship), and then you will have to prepare 
the supper table." We were now going down the 
lower bay, everything was new and wonderful to me ; 
yet I was thinking more especially of my home. The 
crew was hurrying to and fro about decks and up 
aloft. Orders, which I did not understand, were 
being given in rapid succession. I knew, however, 
that they were getting ready to make sail. My 
mother and I sought to be alone together as far as 
it was possible. It was now her desire and purpose, 
in the few minutes left us, to express in words every 
thought which her love for me could suggest. We 
met a number of ships with flying colors, homeward 
bound. I called my mother's attention to them and 
said to her: 

"Some bright day you will hear that the 'Two Sis- 
ters' has arrived at Shanghai, China, all safe and 
sound. You will then receive a letter from me. I 
will tell you all about the outward voyage, but the 
best of all will be, 'When we corfte sailing home,' and 
it will not be so long after all, not too long, I hope. 
Give my love to brother and sisters. Tell them I 
expect to receive a long letter from home some day." 
Just at this moment the tug blew a long blast from 
her whistle, which was the signal that she was about 
to come alongside. 

As the hawser was being hauled in, the tug gradu- 
ally drew alongside. The last good-bye was hurried- 
ly said. It took only a few moments to transfer the 
passengers. My mother was the last one to be helped 
to the tug's deck. As she looked up and saw me 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 51 

watching her, she uttered a cry of anguish which 
pierced me through and through. 

"My boy!" she cried. All her sufferings and 
anxious care over me in the past, all her love and 
anxiety and hope for my future were expressed in 
that last look. I answered her the best I could, 
saying: 

"Good-bye, mamma." All the guests knew that 
she had made a very great sacrifice. They all gathered 
around her and I could see her no more. All our 
fore and aft sails had been set on our way down the 
lower bay. The square sails were being set as rapid- 
ly as possible. 

The distance between us and our friends was now 
increasing rapidly and for the last farewell we dipped 
our ensign. They answered by three long blasts 
from the tug's whistle, which being interpreted was, 
"a speedy and safe voyage, farewell." We had now 
fully entered upon our long voyage, and I hardly 
knew which way to turn. It seemed as though I 
were in a dream and wishing that I might awake 
out of it, but I soon found out that everything 
around me was very real, all too real. The steward 
came to me and said : 

"Now get those chairs packed away and then set 
the supper table." 

"Yes, sir," I stammered out. 

"Never mind your 'yes, sirs,' " he said, "say, 'Aye, 
aye, sir.' " 



52 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. As I went into the 
cabin to do his bidding, I said to myself, "Supper, 
well, that is the very last thing I want to-night." 

The tone of everybody's voice seemed to have 
changed since the guests left us, so it appeared to 
me. Only Mrs. Benjamin's voice seemed to be 
natural. She spoke kindly to me and gave me some 
instructions in regard to the chairs, which encouraged 
me. After I had put the chairs away the best I 
could, the steward came and looked at them and 
said: "They will do for the present." He placed 
a rack on the dining table to keep the dishes from 
sliding ofif, which precaution was becoming more and 
more necessary as the ship was beginning to make 
strange motions, up and down, from side to side. I 
prepared the table in the same manner as mother 
and I had done the night previous, as nearly as I 
could remember. By this time, I began to feel a 
creeping sensation coming all over me and I was 
soon put out of commission for the time being. 

I got up on deck as soon as possible. I secured a po- 
sition in the corner formed by a break in the quar- 
ter deck which was about two feet in height. I sat 
on the edge of this break on the leeward side, hold- 
ing fast to the railing as tightly as I could. I had 
placed myself in just the coldest place that I could 
have found anywhere on deck. The wind swept 
down upon me from the mizzenstaysail, with great 
force. It was blowing fresh from the southwest, 
and increasing. A bell was struck every half hour, 
which told the time, but I did not understand it. It 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 53 

was now dark; I was exceedingly homesick, also 
very seasick. Everything around me looked wild 
and boisterous and I was afraid. By and by the bell 
was struck eight times (eight o'clock P. M.) Orders, 
which were all Greek to me, were being given. The 
crew became very active in taking in sails, which 
continued about thirty minutes, then I heard the or- 
der given, "Relieve the wheel" and "Go below, the 
watch," also simultaneously, "Keep a good lookout 
ahead." An answer came back from the foreward 
part of the ship, "Aye, aye, sir." The captain con- 
sulted a few minutes with Mr. Stover, and then went 
below. There was nothing in their actions which 
betrayed anything unusual going on or any especial 
danger contemplated, which fact encouraged me a 
little, but I was feeling so badly that I did not care 
very much what happened. 

The wind continued to howl and the sea to roar 
more and more fiercely. Nobody said anything to 
me and I did not speak to anyone. I simply held to 
the railing as tightly as I could and suffered on. I 
thought how different to actually have the sea roar- 
ing because of the swellings thereof, all around you, 
,than to read about it out of the Bible in the Sun- 
day School. "I am not like poor old Jonah," I 
thought, "trying to run away from God, I am only 
a little cabin boy. I am sure I have not done any- 
thing very bad. Oh, mother! mother!" I cried. Mr. 
Stover, (it was his watch on deck from eight until 
twelve midnight) called out to me : 

"Well, don't make so much noise about it." 



54 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/'' 

"Is it possible," I thought, "that he could hear me 
crying above all the roar of wind and sea." But a 
boy crying for his mother was a very unusual sound 
to be heard on board of a ship at sea. 

It had been raining for some time and my clothing 
was about wet through. A boat, bottom up, was 
lashed on the weather side (the weather side is the 
side from which the wind is blowing) of the after 
quarter deck. I thought, if I could only get under 
it, I would at least be out of the rain and perhaps 
a little warmer, so I made the attempt, and after 
walking and crawling, I succeeded in reaching it. 
It proved a little shelter from the rain and wind, 
but I continued to be just as sick as ever. I 
remembered the captain's promise to my mother, 
that I would not be unnecessarily exposed on deck 
in bad weather. I presumed that he thought it was 
the very best and quickest way to cure me of sea- 
sickness; but I can testify from experience, that the 
remedy was just about as severe as the disease. 

The wind steadily continued to increase. The cap- 
tain came on deck and consulted with Mr. Stover 
about taking in more sail. He called out, "How do 
you head?" Someone answered, but I did not un- 
derstand what was meant. It was a call to the man 
at the wheel to ascertain in what direction the ship 
was heading. It was now eight bells again (mid- 
night). The watch below was then called and I 
heard the order given, "All hands on deck," "Shorten 
sail." In five minutes' time, the men were all on deck 
and ready for action. A series of orders was now 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 55 

• 

given but I only understood the words used : "Stand 
by the foretopsail halyards," "Man the reeftackles," 
"Weather foretopsail brace," "Lower away, foretop- 
sail." I could hear the blocks rattle as the yard was 
lowered. Then all hands, including Mr. Fletcher, 
went aloft to reef the sail. I heard from aloft, in a 
few minutes, above the roar of the storm, "Haul out 
to the leeward." In a short time all hands were 
down from aloft. I heard Mr. Fletcher's voice, "Man 
the foretopsail halyards," "Hoist away." While the 
sail was being hoisted, the men began to sing, a 
shantie, (a real song, it sounded very strange to me 
in the midst of the storm). It was inspiring how- 
ever, but what they could find to sing about in all 
this darkness, rain and tempest, was a mystery to 
me. Yet the vim and enthusiasm, they put into their 
song cheered me up a little, although I was awfully 
homesick. The very same manoeuvres were gone 
through with the maintopsail, after which the span- 
ker was reefed. At two bells (one A. M.) everything 
had been made snug, as Mr. Stover expressed it. I 
heard the very same order repeated that I had heard 
the first part of the night, "Relieve the wheel," "Go 
below the watch," "Keep a good lookout ahead." 

In the meantime the ship was pitching and rolling 
heavily, and I imagined that somehow, or by some 
means, the boat might be thrown into the sea and 
I would be lost, so I had crawled out from beneath it 
and had taken up a position close by the weather 
side of it, with my arm around one of the lashings. 
Soon after the sails had been reefed, and the first mate 



56 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

and the captain had gone below, the second mate 
came to me and said : 

"Jack, you had better go below, perhaps then you 
may get some sleep and you will feel better in the 
morning." 

"Yes, sir," I answered, "but nobody wants to help 
me." My voice was very weak because of exposure, 
suffering and cr3dng. His sympathy was aroused and 
he said: 

"Well, well, my boy, I will help you." 

His voice appeared to be as an angel's from heaven, 
although he was a strong, hard fisted typical Irish 
sailor. Underneath all the rough exterior of this man 
there was a kind heart, which fact was proved in my 
case, not only on this night in question, but also on 
many other occasions. 

As he was helping me down to the cabin and to 
my berth, the steward was awakened and inquired : 

"What is the matter?" "Matter enough," said 
Mr. Fletcher, "don't you suppose the lad needs any 
shelter and rest?" 

The steward said, "Oh, I supposed the boy was 
all right," and before I had fairly settled in my berth 
he was asleep again. After Mr. Fletcher had spread 
my wet clothing over a chair, he turned to me again, 
and said : 

"Now, laddie, go to sleep. Sure, you will feel bet- 
ter in the morning." 

I thanked him the very best I knew how. I told 
him where my bag of apples was and that he must 
help himself to them, after which he hastened up on 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 57 

deck. I was too exhausted to think or to be home- 
sick, or even to say my prayers. I heard four bells 
(two A. M.) and then forgot all about my troubles 
for the time being, for I was soon happy in sleep, 
dreaming about home. My first night at sea was a 
thing of the past and became one more link in the 
chain of my life's history, forged by a very unpleas- 
ant experience. 



58 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters. 



Chapter VII. 

Si 2De0ctiption ot tfie &5ip 

The Hull. 

The hull was about one hundred and forty-five 
feet on the load water line, built after the model of 
a medium clipper, painted black. The ship's name 
could be seen on either side of the bow, on both 
quarters and also under the stern. The letters were 
carved beautifully and overlaid with gold leaf. On 
each side of the bow and under the stern were carved 
scroll work and designs consisting of the Union Jack, 
the United States coat of arms and the Stars and 
Stripes, supported by cannon, all overlaid with gold 
leaf and otherwise decorated. In every respect, the 
"Two Sisters" made a very graceful appearance. 

The Decks and Cabins. 

The extreme length from taffrail to the knight 
heads on deck, over all, was one hundred and fifty- 
five feet. First comes foretopgallantforcastle deck. 
This deck extended from the knight heads, the 
extreme point of the bow aft twenty feet. A 
capstan was mounted on the center of this deck 
which was used to hoist the anchors to the cat heads, 
for boarding the fore-tack and for many other pur- 
poses where hoisting or pulling power is needed. 
The cat heads are two pieces of timber bolted down 
to the deck, one on either side. They extend over 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 59 

each bow two and a half feet, so that when anchors 
are hoisted up to them they swing clear of the bow. 
They were placed about thirteen feet from the knight 
heads. The anchors are secured to the ends of the 
cat heads by a hook device, which is locked with a 
small steel pin. When the pin is removed and the 
hook is struck lightly with a hammer, it slips out of 
place and the anchor is let go. 

There were also on this deck, two feet from the 
after edge, and two feet from the outside railing, 
solid bits, one on either side; these pieces of timber 
extended up through the topgallantforecastle deck, 
two and a-half feet above it. They were used for 
making ropes fast under many different circum- 
stances. The Sampson post, as its name implies is 
a large and strong stick of timber, the lower end of 
which is secured to the top of the keelson and ex- 
tends up through the main deck and also through 
the forecastle deck and three feet above. The 
Sampson post has several uses; first, the heel of the 
bowsprit is secured to the forward side of it; second, 
it is a stay for the windlass, which is connected to 
the after side of it; third, the hawser is always made 
fast to the top of it when the ship is being towed ; 
fourth, the gearing of the windlass, which works 
from the foretopgallantforecastle deck, is attached 
to it ; fifth, the ship's bell was hung near the top of 
the after part of it. This deck was surmounted by 
a railing or solid waist, one foot and a-half high. 
On the top of this railing were chocks, placed in 
different positions, through which ropes were led to 



6o Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters/' 

the capstan, bits and sampson post. Directly aft of 
the sampson post were steps which led down to the 
main deck five feet. 

The main deck proper continued from stem to 
stern, but in reality on the "Two Sisters" it termi- 
nated eighteen feet forward of the mainmast, the 
remaining part of it was covered with poop decks, 
cabins, etc. Underneath the topgallantforecastle 
deck and on the extreme forward end of the main 
deck were coal bunkers, chicken coops and pens for 
pigs and sheep. There were also paint lockers and 
boatswain and block lockers. A boatswain locker is 
the place where all manner of tools and tacklings 
which sailors use about the rigging are kept. All of 
these lockers and pens were equally distributed on 
either side. Next came the windlass, which was 
about twelve feet in length and three feet in diameter 
in the center; it was placed under the edge of the 
forecastle deck, just aft of the sampson post and con- 
nected with it. Each end revolved in solid chocks. 

Near the foot of the steps which led down from 
off the forecastle deck was a hatchway, four feet 
square. This hatch was not used for taking cargo 
in or out but simply for ventilation. Directly aft 
of this hatch and just forward of the foremast were 
two large bits, one on either side, about four feet 
apart. A heavy piece of timber, placed across, con- 
nected the two, forming one large double bit, a rail- 
ing extending out from the after side of these bits, 
supported by stanchions, surrounded the foremast. 
Two feet aft of the foremast is the center house, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 6i 

containing the chain locker, forecastle (sailors' quar- 
ters), carpenter's room, cook's store room, cook's room 
and the galley. First comes the chain locker, across the 
forward end. On the starboard forward corner was 
the forecastle, containing berths for eight men. On 
the starboard after corner was the carpenter's room, 
with two berths. On the port forward corner was the 
cook's store room, and on the port after corner the 
galley was located and the cook's room, having two 
berths. On the top of the center house the ship's long 
boat was lashed, also some booms and light spars. 

Aft of the center house we come to the fore 
hatches. This hatchway had an opening space of 
eight by ten feet, divided by a movable beam across 
the center and covered with four separate hatches. 
Three feet aft of this hatchway, and just forward of 
the poop deck, were the main pumps. There were 
secured on this deck six casks and two large tanks 
for water, also some spare spars. This deck was 
protected by bulwarks six and a-half feet in height. 
They were built strong in three tiers, one above the 
other. Next comes the poop deck which extended 
as far as the cabin, within three feet of the mizzen- 
mast. This deck was five feet in height and formed 
what is called "between decks." It was reached 
from the main deck by two sets of steps, one on 
either side, and was protected by a waist one foot and 
a-half high. A capstan was mounted on this deck, 
twelve feet forward of the mainmast. Between two 
heavy bits and connected with them, a cargo wincli 
was placed. A railing from these bits extended 
around the mainmast and the after pumps. Three feet 



62 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/'' 

aft of this railing the after hatchway was situated. 
This hatchw^ay was covered, not only by the regular 
hatches but also by a booby hatch with a companion- 
way by which easy access was had to between decks. 

Between decks was used not only for cargo but 
also for the ship's stores. Opposite the main rigging 
and two feet from the waist on either side of this 
deck were a series of bits running fore and aft and 
connected with each other by a cross railing. This 
railing was full of belaying pins to which some of 
the rigging was attached. 

Sixteen feet from the booby hatch takes us to the 
quarter deck. This deck was twenty inches higher 
than the poop deck and was protected by an open 
railing supported by fancy stanchions every few feet 
apart. This railing continued around the stern. The 
quarter deck covered the cabin, the entrance to 
which, or rather the companionway, cut through the 
port forward edge, leading, from the poop deck, three 
feet from the mizzenmast. 

Next we come to the mizzenmast on the quarter 
deck, three feet from the forward edge. Six feet 
aft of the mizzenmast is a skylight, six by four feet. 
This skylight was partly over the forward and partly 
over the after cabin. Six feet further aft we come 
to another skylight, three by two and a-half feet. 
We come next to the binnacle, which stands in the 
center on the after edge of this deck. The binnacle 
contained two compasses, one on either side, and a 
lamp in the center. Now we step down off the quar- 
ter deck and into the wheel pit. This deck covers 



A Cabin Boyd's Story. 63 

the lazarette, which is the after part of the ship and 
is on the same level as the poop deck. Three feet 
aft of the binnacle is the wheel and its gearing. 
There were large bits, one on either side. 

The Cabins. 

The cabins have but one companionway. After 
reaching the floor of the cabin, which is the main 
deck proper, we stand in a vestibule, facing aft. Two 
doors opened from this vestibule, one at the right, 
opening into the first mate's stateroom, the one in 
front of you opening into the forward cabin. On 
the port side of this cabin was the second mate's 
room. On the starboard side were two rooms. The 
steward and I occupied the forward one. On the 
forward end, the pantry was located. The mizzen- 
mast came down through the pantry on the port 
side. There was also a spare room on the starboard 
after side of this cabin. On the after end, directly 
under the skylight, was the dining table. Back of 
the dining table, a large mirror was secured and a 
beautiful swinging lamp hung over the table. This 
cabin was painted pure white, with two gilded mould- 
ings around the top. In the starboard after corner, 
eight rifles, with bayonets nicely polished, stood in 
a rack. On the port after corner a door opened into 
the after cabin, on the port side of which were two 
spare rooms. On the starboard side forward was the 
captain's room and on the starboard side aft was the 
toilet. On the after side a door opened into the 
lazarette under the wheel pit deck. In the lazarette 



64 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

were two water tanks, one on either side, contain- 
ing eighteen hundred gallons of water each. There 
was also in this place considerable storage room. 
The after cabin was finished in hard woods and nicely 
furnished. 

Masts, Yards, and Booms. 

MASTS : Foremast, foretopmast, foretopgallant- 
mast, and the foreroyalmast ; second, the mainmast, 
maintopmast, maintopgallantmast, mainroyalmast 
and mainskysailmast. The topgallant, royal and sky- 
sail masts were composed of one spar. Third, miz- 
zenmast and mizzentopmast. The "Two Sisters" 
was bark rigged, consequently the main and fore 
were square rigged and the mizzen a fore and aft rig. 

YARDS: First, the foreyard,foretopsail-yard, fore- 
topgallant-yard and foreroyal-yard ; second, the main- 
yard, maintopsail-yard, maintopgallant-yard, main- 
royal-yard and mainskysail-yard. 

BOOMS : First, the flying jib-boom, jib-boom, and 
bowsprit; the flying jib-boom and jib-boom con- 
sisted of one spar; second, the spanker boom and 
gaff; third, studdingsail booms, the fore or lower- 
studdingsail booms fitted on the top of the foreyard 
on either side. The foretopmast, studdingsail booms 
fitted on the top of the foretopsail-yards, one on 
either side. The lowermain and the maintopmast- 
studdingsail booms are fitted exactly as on the fore. 

Standing Rigging. 

The STANDING RIGGING consisted of stays, 
backstays, shrouds and backstays. First, the fore- 
rigging, sometimes called the foreshrouds, were six 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 65 

in number. The forward one is called the fore-swif- 
ter. They extend from the foremast-head down to 
the chain-plates. Five of the after ones are con- 
nected with each other by ratlines, made of small 
hemp rope, which form rope ladders, by which means 
the sailors ascend into the foretop. These shrouds 
are very strong and set up as taut as possible. Of 
course, both sides of the mast are equally stayed. 
Next comes the foretop. The foretop is a platform 
around the foremast-head in shape of a half moon 
with a square edge aft. The top is large enough for 
twelve men to stand six on either side. The foretop- 
mast rigging or shrouds are eight, four on either side. 
They extend from the foretopmast-head to the out- 
side edge of the foretop, connected with steel rods 
leading down to a band around the foremast, three 
feet under the top. These rods are fitted with rat- 
lines, by which the men climb up, over into the top, 
a difficult feat for a landsman. The foretopmast rig- 
ging has also ratlines in order to make the ascent 
easy. 

Next we come to the foretopmast crosstrees. The 
crosstrees are an open frame which is fitted over the 
foretopmast-head secured just under the eyes of the 
foretopmast rigging, just as the foretop is secured 
under the eyes of the forerigging. The crosstrees 
have two arms extending out horizontally, three and 
a-half feet on each side of the foretopmast-head, 
also two longer frames one on either side extending 
out diagonally about thirty-five degrees aft. These 
are called outriggers. The foretopgallant-shrouds 



66 V,OYAGE OF "The Two Sisters/' 

are two on either side extending from the topgal- 
lantmast-head, down to the crosstrees. They are 
without ratlines. In addition to all this, there are 
stays and backstays. First, the backstays. The 
foretopmast backstays are two on either side ex- 
tending from the foretopmast-head down to the 
chain-plates just aft of the forerigging. The fore- 
topgallant backstays are two on either side and ex- 
tend from the topgallantmast-head to the railing 
just aft of the others. The foreroyal backstays, 
one on either side, extend from the royalmast-head 
down to the railing. The top-gallant and royal back- 
stays lead down through the outriggers which are 
supported by the crosstrees. The foreroyalmast 
extends about nine feet above all of the rigging and 
is surmounted by a gilded ball with a pulley inserted 
for the foresignal-halyards. All of the main-rigging 
is fitted exactly as the fore-rigging, with the addi- 
tion of the mainskysail gear with its mast, yard, 
stays and backstays. The mizzen-rigging or shrouds 
are five, on either side, extending from the mizzen- 
mast-head to the chain-plates, the four forward ones 
connected by ratlines. The mizzen crosstrees are 
fitted around the mast head with its outriggers about 
the same as the fore and maintopmast crosstrees, 
only a little larger. The mizzentopmast rigging 
is two shrouds, on either side, extending from the 
mizzentopmast-head down to the crosstrees and is 
without ratlines. 

The mizzentopmast backstays are two, on either 
side, extending from the mizzentopmast-head, down 
through the outriggers to the chain-plates, aft of 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 67 

the mizzen-rigging. The chain-plates are secured 
on the ship's side opposite the rigging. 

Next in order we have the fore and aftstays, first 
the forestay leading from the foremast-head, down 
through chocks on both sides of the bowsprit a few 
feet from the cap, and thence into the knight heads. 
The fore and mainstays, also the fore and maintop- 
mast-stays, are double. The foretopmast-stays lead 
from the foretopmast-head to the end of the bowsprit 
through chocks, and thence into the knight head. 

A small spar called the martingale, about ten feet 
in length, is hung perpendicularly under the end of 
the bowsprit, the lower end secured by chain guys 
leading to the end of the flying jib-boom and to each 
cathead. The jib-stay leads from the foretopmast 
head down through the end of the jib-boom and 
thence through a chock on the martingale to the 
knight heads on the starboard side. The foretop- 
gallant-stay leads from the foretopgallantmast 
head, down through the end of the flying jib-boom 
and thence through a chock on the martingale to the 
knight head on the port side. The flying jib is set 
on this stay. The foreroyal-stay leads parallel with 
the foretopgallant-stay. 

The mainstay leads from the mainmast head to 
the bits just forward of the foremast, and the main- 
topmast-stay leads from the maintopmast-head to 
the same bits as the main-stay. The maintopgallant- 
stay leads from the maintopgallantmastihead to 
the cap on the foremast-head. The mainroyal-stay 
leads from the mainroyalmast-head to the foretop- 
mast-head. The mainskysail stay leads parallel with 



68 Voyage of ''"The Two Sisters." 

the mainroyal-stay. The mizzenstay led from the miz- 
zenmast-head to a band around the mainmast six 
feet from the deck. The mizzentopmast-stay leads 
from the head of the mizzentopmast to the cap on 
the mainmast-head. 

The jackstays are small steel rods running along 
on the top of each yard leaving a space of about an 
inch and a half. The head of the sails are secured 
to the jackstays. Life lines or hand beckets are also 
secured to them, also gaskets, that are used in furl- 
ing the sails. The bobstays are heavy chains, three 
in number; they lead from the end of the bowsprit to 
the stem. They support all of the headstays. 

Sails 

SQUARE SAILS : Foresail, foretopsail, foretop- 
gallantsail, foreroyal. Mainsail, maintopsail, main- 
topgallantsail, mainroyal and mainskysail. Lower- 
studdingsails, topmaststuddingsails, topgallantstud- 
dingsails. The lowerstuddingsail is hoisted up to the 
end of the lowerstuddingsail-boom underneath. The 
topmaststuddingsail is hoisted to the end of the top- 
sail-yard and hauled out to the end of the lower- 
studdingsail-boom. The topgallantstuddingsail is 
hoisted to the topgallantyard-arm, and is hauled out 
to the end of the topmaststuddingsail-boom. All of 
the studdingsails have a small boom across the head 
of each of them. The lower and topmast studding- 
sails are set from the deck. The topgallantstudding- 
sails are set from the tops. The lowerstuddingsails 
are triangular in shape. The "Two Sisters" was fitted 
with studdingsail gear both for the fore and main. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



69 



The studdingsails are used both on the fore and 
main when the wind is abeam or on the quar- 




ter. When the ship is sailing directly before the 
wind, they can be used on both sides, either on the 
fore or main. 



JO Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

FORE AND AFT SAILS : Flying jib, jib, foretop- 
maststaysail, mainstaysail, maintopmaststaysail, main- 
topgallantstaysail, mizzenstaysail, mizzentopmast- 
staysail, spanker and mizzentopsail. 

Running Rigging and Ropes 
First, RUNNING RIGGING: The foresail and 
mailsail are fitted with clewlines, buntlines, bowlines, 
leachlines, reeftackles and sheets and tacks. These 
sails can be made smaller by taking in one reef. The 
fore and maintopsails are fitted with halyards, clew- 
lines, buntlines, reef-tackles, reef-jiggers and sheets. 
These sails can be made smaller by taking in three 
reefs. The topgallantsails, royals and the mainsky- 
sails are each fitted with halyards, sheets, clewlines 
and buntlines. Each yard is fitted with topping-lifts, 
life-lines or hand-beckets, foot-ropes and braces. The 
jibs and staysails are fitted with halyards, downhauls 
and sheets. The spanker has throat and peek hal- 
yards, downhaul and sheets. Mizzentopsail has hal- 
yards, clewlines, tack and sheet. The lowerstudding 
sails are fitted with outer and inner halyards, tacks 
and sheets ; topmast and topgallantstuddingsails have 
halyards, tacks and sheets. Although there is much 
running rigging on board of the ship there are only 
a few ropes — so called; bolt rope, leech rope, tiller 
rope, man rope and bucket rope. 

I hope that the above description of the ship will 
prove to be satisfactory to my young readers. 

It will take some time for us to become accustomed 
to all of the running rigging, the halyards, sheets, 
clewlines, buntlines, tacks, downhauls, etc., so that in 
the darkest storm we can lay hold of just the right one. 



A Cabin Boy''s Story. 71 



Chapter VIII. 

jFtom il^eto gorK to tfie Cquator 

The morning after my first night's experience I 
was called, by the steward, at seven bells (seven- 
thirty A. M,), I was greatly refreshed by sleep, and 
while dressing I thought, "Well, never mind, I will 
be home again inside of a year," When I reached 
the deck, I found the storm had abated somewhat, 
yet it was still quite rough. I was feeling very much 
better, however, than I did the night before. The 
steward assisted me in my morning toilet; I followed 
him to the leeward side of the main deck, not walking 
very gracefully from a sailor's standpoint, yet I man- 
aged to keep within hailing distance of him. He gave 
me a canvas bucket with a long rope (bucket rope) 
attached to it. He showed me how to make the end 
of the rope fast to a belaying pin before I let the 
bucket over the side that it might not get away 
from me. 

"Now," he said, "just as soon as the bucket touches 
the water pull up quickly or else it may pull you 
overboard." 

"WeH," I thought, "I don't want to get over- 
board, and that's the truth, especially on the first 
day out, for that would bring my voyage to an 
abrupt ending in more ways than one, but is it pos- 
sible that I will have to run the risk of losing my 



72 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

life every morning in order to wash my face?" How- 
ever, I did as he told me and succeeded fairly well 
in bringing up the bucket half full of the briny deep. 
I then proceeded to make my ablutions. It was not 
as efficacious as some warm water and soap, yet it 
was quite refreshing and I rather enjoyed it. 

I had not as yet been formally introduced to the 
cook and, as no one had taken it upon himself to 
perform that little bit of shore etiquette, I took the 
grave responsibility and proceeded to do it myself. 
Now, the cook was not as white as the rest of the 
crew (on the outside I mean), but he proved to be 
a good fellow. 

"Good morning," I said. 

"Hello, what's yer name ?" 

"My name is John Smith." 

"Well, guess everybody round dis part of de 
world will call ye Jack; my name is Cook," (I never 
knew him by any other name) "or at least that's my 
official capacity." 

"Well, Jack," he said, "how are ye getting 'long?" 

"Just as fast as the rest of you are, I suppose." 

"Well, I reckon ye are, but how be ye feeling this 
morning?" 

"Oh, very much better than I did last night." 

"Dat's de ticket, you'll be skippin' 'round decks in 
a few days just like a real sailor, dat ye be." 

"I thank you, Mr. Cook, for your encouraging 
words." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 73 

"Don't put any handle onto my official capacity; 
isn't anyone does it here except he be starving, 'sides 
it isn't sea logical. Here," he says, "do you sees that 
basin, it's all'es hanging right here and in the morn- 
in' when ye'se washin' ye can use him, but keep 'em 
hanging rite there all the time. Say," he added, 
"cooks and stewards and cabin boys don't use de sea 
water all de time in washin'." 

Just at this time the steward came to the galley 
with a basket lined with tin. He put some dishes 
containing food into it and bade me follow him to 
the cabin. On the way he called the second mate to 
breakfast. Breakfast was served at seven bells (half- 
past seven), dinner at eight bells (noon), and sup- 
per at three bells (half-past five). 

The captain, Mrs. Benjamin and the first mate sat 
at the first table, the steward, second mate and I at 
the second table. Mr. Fletcher said, "Well, my boy, 
are you hungry, this morning?" 

"Yes, sir, a little," I answered. 

"That's right," he said, "why I expect to see you 
upon the mainskysail-yard in about a week." 

"Don't know, sir," I said. 

"Well, I know," ejaculated the steward. 

After breakfast (eight bells) I heard the order 
given, "All hands on deck, make sail." Making sail 
was not in my line of work, just yet, but in going 
to and from the cabin to the galley, I took notice. 
Every sail was set, at least I thought so, except the 
skysail. The wind was fair and blowing fresh. The 
steward sent me to the galley for hot water and then 



74 Voyage of '"''The Two Sisters/^ 

gave me my first lesson in dish-washing. There was 
a place for every dish, and of course, every dish must 
be put into its place. Next came the lamps; I cleaned 
the chimneys and the steward filled the lamps. He 
sent me to get the binnacle lamp. I did not know 
just which way to go but guessed it was where the 
man was steering, and I guessed right. 

The captain was in the wheelpit, taking his morn- 
ing walk just where he could observe everything go- 
ing on above decks, both fore and aft. 

"How are you this morning. Jack?" he inquired. 

"Quite well, sir," I said. 

"Good for you. Jack," he said. "Your Sweetheart 
is slacking up a little. Perhaps you have got one 
over in China somewhere, there seems to be some- 
body pulling very strong that way this morning." 

I did not quite understand what he meant, but I 
knew it was intended for a little pleasantry. He 
then showed me how to take out the binnacle lamp 
and how to readjust it. 

After the dishes were washed and lamps trimmed, 
I went on deck to dispose of the dishwater. Now 
I had heard that nothing but hot water and ashes 
were to be thrown overboard to the windward, and, 
without thinking, I supposed it was the proper thing 
to dispose of it in that direction. Well, some of it 
went over the ship's side, the rest over me, and on 
deck. The captain looked at the first mate, and I 
heard Mr. Stover say something about experience 
being the best teacher. I looked and felt as though 
I had been taking a bath in dishwater. The steward 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 75 

had provided me with an apron, which covered me 
from head to foot. Now I remembered that the 
cook had spoken kindly in the morning, so I beat a 
retreat to his galley. 

"Cook," I said, "I have made a mistake." 

"That's so, I see's ye has. No matter, every chap 
done dat once, for de last time. Get off dat apron 
thing, we'll fix 'um up. Here, wash de face between 
the middle of the eyes. Dat's good. Say, does ye 
see dat cask dere, lashed to de heel of de spar for 
topmast, we'll keep him full ob de rain water pro- 
vidin' it rains, den we'll keep 'em clean as de lily. 
Now be gone aft quick." 

I thanked him and obeyed. The steward said noth- 
ing to me about it. He knew that the inevitable had 
happened. 

An old uncle told me before I left home that I 
would get along all right on board the ship if I al- 
ways kept on the right side of Mrs. Benjamin. It 
would depend on her estimation of me whether I 
suited the captain or not, so I had purposed in my 
heart to keep in close touch with her. After I had 
made the forward cabin and pantry tidy and made 
up the berths, I ventured into the after cabin and in- 
quired of Mrs. Benjamin if I could do anything for 
her. 

"Why, good morning, Jack. I am not feeling very 
well this morning, but how did you sleep last night 
through the storm?" 

"Very well, ma'am, after I got to my berth," I 
answered. .. 



y6 Voyage of '^The Two Sisters." 

"At four bells (ten A. M.) you can bring me some 
hot water." 

There was something unusual going on out on 
deck, and as I had some spare time, I went up to 
take a look around. I saw that they were setting- 
more sails on booms attached to the end of the yards 
on the weather side, both fore and main, they are 
called studdingsails (see chapter seven), and the sky- 
sail had also been set. A good breeze was blowing 
but the ship was comparatively steady. I heard some 
one say that we were sailing thirteen knots (miles) 
an hour. Just at this time I heard, "ding dong, ding 
dong," which reminded me of Mrs. Benjamin's or- 
der. As soon as possible, I v^as at the galley with 
my pitcher. 

"Is't de water for de missis?" the cook inquired. 

"Yes," I said. 

"Then it must be hot and dat's de fact." So he 
gave an extra poke at his fire, and a minute or two 
I was off for the after-cabin. 

Mrs. Benjamin was ready for the water and after 
congratulating me for getting over being sea-sick so 
soon, she told me to go to the steward and ask him 
to show me how to make a glass of egg-nog, and 
bring it to her. I found the steward in the cook's 
store room, in the midst of his pastry, and delivered 
Mrs. Benjamin's request. 

"All right," he said, "you go and bring me a saucer 
and goblet." He then took an ^gg and separated the 
yolk into the goblet and the white into the saucer. 
Then he put a teaspoonful of fine white sugar into 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. jy 

the goblet with the yolk, which I beat together. He 
beat the w^hite of the ^g% to a froth and added it to 
the contents in the goblet, and bid me serve it on a 
tray. Mrs. Benjamin added some port wine, and 
pronounced it very good. I performed this little 
service as long as eggs were available, most of the 
time during the voyage, and it is needless to say 
that I became very proficient. 

Mrs. Benjamin then ordered me to beat up her 
bed, turn it over and make up the berth, after which 
I made her room tidy and also the after-cabin. 

''Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin. "Now, to-morrow 
morning you will not be seasick, and after you have 
a good night's sleep you will be up bright and early; 
if possible you must do all your work in the after- 
cabin before seven bells and your work in the for- 
ward cabin after breakfast. Then, wdien I get ready, 
you can tidy up my room. By the way. Jack, sup- 
pose we have a piece of your mother's cake." 

The mere mention of my mother touched a tender 
spot in my heart; Mrs. Benjamin, with her womanly 
instinct, noticed it. 

"Well, Jack," she said, "I like a boy who loves his 
mother. I love my mother, too, and I suppose that 
eating this delicious homemade cake, will make both 
you and me a little homesick." (The truth was that 
I did not get over being homesick until after all my 
apples and cake were gone, which was in about two 
weeks). 

After all this, I reported to the steward, who told 
me that at seven bells (half-past eleven) I should 



y8 Voyage of '"The Two Sisters/^ 

prepare the dinner table. It was now only six bells, 
so I had half an hour to myself. I occupied the time 
in looking- about the main deck. 

The men of the watch were all at work. The wind 
had moderated since morning, and I ventured to ask 
one of the sailors how fast we were sailing, 

"Oh, between nine and ten knots," he answered, 
"What are you doing here, are you the captain's son?" 
he inquired. 

"No, sir," I said, "I am the cabin boy." 

"It is too bad to take a young lad like you from 
his home," 

"I wanted to come, sir." 

"What's your name?" he asked. 

"My name is Jack, sir." 

"Jack," he said, "you need not 'sir' any one who 
lives in this part of the ship, you just say yes and 
no, and you will get along all right." I thanked 
him for this bit of information and went on with 
my investigations, 

I took a look on the topgallantforecastle deck. 
The flukes of the anchors had been turned over 
on the deck ^nd were lashed down to the catheads 
and to each other, and that brought the stocks of 
the anchors perpendicular hard up against the out- 
side of the railing. Underneath this deck was quite 
a little menagerie,. There were fowl, pigs and a goat. 
The goat was permitted to roam about the main deck 
in good weather. We never became very friendly 
with each other. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 79 

From thence I came to the forecastle proper, which 
opened on the starboard side of the center house. I 
just peeped in on the watch below. They were all 
sleeping in their berths. I noticed that the running 
rigging led along down the standing rigging through 
fair leaders, which were seized on the shrouds and 
backstays about fifteen feet above the deck and 
thence down to belaying pins about as high as a 
man's waist. There were fifteen to twenty of these 
ropes on either side, also a half dozen on each side 
of the mast, besides all of the headgear. I thought, 
"Shall I ever know each one of these by name and 
then there is all the main and mizzen ropes." 

After this I came to the carpenter's room and so 
on to the galley. This was my first tour of the 
main deck. I have told you of only a few of the 
things which will be mentioned later. 

The cook hailed me, and said, "Jack, de steward 
is lookin' for ye, he is in de cabin." 

"Yes," I said. On my way aft I noticed the cap- 
tain and Mr. Stover with instruments (quadrants) 
in their hands, looking at the horizon. The steward 
explained to me that by means of these instruments 
they brought the sun down to the horizon and by 
that determined when the sun reached the zenith, 
which time would be exactly twelve o'clock, noon, 
true time. 

It was now seven bells, apparent time, and the 
steward was in a hurry to get the dinner table ready. 
"We are sailing easterly," he said, "and therefore 
gaining time." He told me that if we were sailing 



8o Voyage of 'The Two Sisters." 

due east, we would gain four seconds to every mile, 
four minutes in every degree, and one hour in every 
fifteen degrees. If we were sailing due west we 
would lose the same amount of time according to 
the distance sailed. In the meantime, I noticed how 
the steward was doing things. 

"I expect you to do this work alone after to-day," 
he said. "You know now what dishes are used, how 
they are placed on the table and where they are kept. 

"Yes, sir," I said. It was now eight bells. After 
the steward had adjusted the clock, which was sev- 
eral minutes slow, he gave me the tin basket and we 
set out for the galley to bring the dinner aft. 

Captain and Mrs. Benjamin and Mr. Stover sat 
down at the table in company with each other. I 
waited on them the best I knew how, and served the 
coffee and removed the soup plates and served the 
dessert. I think that I did quite well for the first, 
thanks to Mrs. Benjamin for a few suggestions. 

After they had finished, I took some of the dishes 
to the galley to have them replenished, and then 
Mr. Fletcher, the steward and I sat down to dinner. 
My appetite was good. Mr. Fletcher intimated that 
we would have to put into some port and store up 
again if my appetite continued to increase. The 
steward said it would be much cheaper to quietly 
drop me over the stern in company with a fifty pound 
shot. Of course they were both joking, yet I did not 
appreciate the latter one at all ; it sounded too pirati- 
cal. I ventured to suggest that in order to prevent 
either extreme I would endeavor to diet myself, 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 



whereupon Mr. Fletcher remarked : "No, no, my 
lad, you eat hearty and give the ship a good name." 

At four bells everything was washed up and put 
away, except some knives and forks which I had to 
rub. The steward told me that in the future I must 
do all of my work before noon, and after dinner was 
cleared away and everything made tidy I would have 
two hours or so to myself, unless Mrs. Benjamin 
had something for me to do, or something unusual 
happened. "Well," I said to myself, as I did not 
have anyone else to say it to, "I expect to attend 
to Mrs. Benjamin's wants as far as I can. But I 
do hope that nothing unusual will happen, for I 
rather enjoy being around on deck." 

When I had gotten through with the knives and 
forks, I took off my apron, washed my face and 
hands, combed my hair, and then I inquired of Mrs. 
Benjamin if there was anything I could do for her. 

"Yes, Jack," she said, "I want you to help me to 
put away my own and the captain's shore clothes." 
After I had shaken and brushed them, Mrs. Benja- 
min folded them. I then laid them away in the 
drawer. 

Just at this time, the captain came in. "Jack," he 
said, "Whenever Mrs. Benjamin calls you, don't 
matter what you are doing, you drop everything- and 
come immediately." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. 

Mrs. Benjamin remarked, "Jack doesn't always 
wait to be called but comes and inquires what he can 
do for me." 



82 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/' 

"That's right, my boy," said the captain. "That's 
better still." It seemed to me that Mrs. Benjamin 
always remembered the captain's command that I 
should drop everything when she called me, because 
she always prefaced her orders with, "Jack, when 
you get through what you are doing come and do 
thus and so." 

"Now, Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "you may go 
on deck and look around, take notice and learn all 
you can. If you see anything that is unusual, come 
and let me know." 

When I got on deck, I found that the wind was 
very light. It had changed from one side to the 
other. Studdingsails had been set on the port side, 
studdingsail-booms were fitted on either side, but the 
sails were changed back and forth as required. It 
was warm and pleasant. It was the second mate's 
watch on deck, and I ran into the cabin and brought 
him two apples. 

"Jack," he said. "You will have a good night's 
sleep to-night, we may have a squall but that need 
not bother you." 

"Yes, sir," I said, "but the cook told me that when 
it rained he and I were to catch water for washing." 

"Yes," he said, "that's all right in the day time, 
but in the night we will look out for it, if you will 
give us some hot cofifee about two bells (five A. M.) 
and three good meals every day, we will take care of 
you through the night." 

I took a good look at everything from truck (tip 
top of the mast) down to the deck. The second 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 83 

mate explained to me a good many things that I 
saw. I then had a talk with the cook. He was a 
West Indian, a native of Martinique, hence his poor 
English. 

"What's de spinning yarns to de secon' mate 'bout, 
ee Jack?" he inquired. 

"Oh," I said, "I was asking him about the sails, 
the ropes and rigging, he told me lots of things." 

"What does ye ter do wid de sails, de rigging and 
de ropes?" 

"I hope to learn the name of each one of them be- 
fore long." 

"Jack, dat's de privilege de has, but what's ee 
things ee tells ye 'bout?" 

"He told me that you and I were to get him some 
nice hot coffee mornings and three good meals every 
day, then he would take care of us through the night, 
and if it rained he would have the water barrel filled 
up for us." 

"De secon' mate him de gude fellow, but how does 
de missis gettin' on?" he asked. 

"Mrs. Benjamin came out to dinner, to-day, she • 
thinks that you are a good cook." 

"Ee Jack, the missis knows what's 'bout de rite 
ting." 

It was now eight bells, the watch below was called, 
the pumps were sounded and the log was thrown. 
Now the log is a term that is applicable to several 
things ; first, the log slate, on which is written every 
two hours a record of the ship's course and distance 



84 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

sailed, the direction of the wind and remarks. Sec- 
ond, the log book. This book is kept by the first 
mate and is written up at the end of each sea day 
(a sea day is from noon to the next noon). It con- 
tains a minute account of the ship's position every 
twenty-four hours, course and distance sailed, differ- 
ence of latitude and longitude, leeway if any, also re- 
marks on the events of the day. Third, logarithm ; 
these are tables of figures found in books on naviga- 
tion and are used in solving mathematical problems, 
used in navigation and in other calculations ; fourth, 
the log proper. This instrument is made of hard 
wood, quadrangular in shape, about one inch in 
thickness; two of the angles are taken off just a little, 
which makes one edge a little rounding. This edge 
has a groove in it, which is filled in with lead. There 
is a small line, about eighteen inches in length, at- 
tached to each corner. These lines or arms reach out 
and are joined to the end of a very long line, which 
is kept wound up on a reel. One of these arms is 
fitted with a stopper. When the log is about to be 
thrown over the taffrail, the stopper is adjusted so 
that when it reaches the water, it stands perdendicu- 
lar, and as fast as the ship goes ahead the line is 
paid out from the reel. It requires three men in 
throwing the log, one to hold and turn the glass 
(sand glass), one to hold the reel, and one to pay out 
the line. When the glass is run out the line is held 
fast, the stopper disconnects itself, the log falls flat 
on the water and the line is easily hauled in and 
reeled up. Our glass was a minute glass, and the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 85 

log line was marked according to it. It indicates 
the number of miles that the ship is sailing per hour. 

The first mate came on deck and took charge, and 
the man at the wheel was relieved. This was the 
first dog-watch. There are two of them, one from 
four to six P. M. and one from 6 to 8 P. M. It was 
now time to prepare the supper table, so I went be- 
low. Before going to work, however, I reported to 
Mrs. Benjamin. I told her of what changes had 
been made in the sails, that the wind was light and 
we were sailing only five miles an hour. I also said 
that Mr. Fletcher predicted a squall sometime dur- 
ing the night. 

''Yes," she said, looking up thoughtfully, "the 
barometer indicates it. Jack, don't you know it is bet- 
ter to be sailing at the rate of five miles an hour in 
the right direction than at the rate of twelve miles an 
hour with a head wind?" 

"Yes, ma'am," I said, "but I did not think about it." 

"However, Jack, I think your report a good one 
for the first day at sea." 

I asked the steward if I should make up the mate's 
and second mate's berths. 

"No, they will take care of their own berths," he 
said. "You keep the floor and paint-work clean in 
their rooms and trim the lamps, that's all. After 
you have set the table," he said, "I will come and 
show you about lighting the lamps." 

The ship was almost as steady as though we were 
alongside of a wharf. Mrs. Benjamin suggested that 
I take the rack off the dinine: table. "It will make 



86 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

it appear more homelike/' she said. A httle before 
three bells, the steward came to attend to the light- 
ing of the lamps. There were seven in all, one each 
for the captain's, first and second mate's rooms and 
pantry, forward, and after-cabins and binnacle. The 
cook took care of the bow light. This light was car- 
ried on the end of the bowsprit, underneath the jib- 
boom. 

It was now three bells and supper time. I went 
through about the same manoeuvres as at dinner, with 
these exceptions : there were not any soup plates or 
dessert dishes to handle. The preserve dishes were 
placed on the table in a pile, and each helped them- 
selves to one if they so desired. The captain, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin and Mr, Stover had some conversation in re- 
gard to the sailing qualities of the ship, about the 
crew and the weather forecast. Mrs. Benjamin re- 
marked : 

"Jack keeps me very well posted about the things 
that are going on up on deck." Addressing the mate, 
she said, "Mr. Stover, it is your watch on deck in 
the morning, from eight to twelve, and if it does 
not storm I expect to come up and take a look at 
you all." 

"Mrs. Benjamin," the mate answered, "we will all 
be glad to see you on deck as often as it is possible." 
I enjoyed the table talk very much. 

When the steward, Mr. Fletcher and I sat down 
to supper, Mr. Fletcher reiterated his prediction that 
we would have a squall before morning. 

"Well, suppose we do," said the steward, "I hope 
that when you and the mate are shouting yourselves 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 87 

hoarse, you will remember that there are some people 
below trying to get some sleep." 

"You slept through all last night without trying 
very hard, I reckon," answered Mr. Fletcher. "I 
wonder if we happened to get on a lee shore some 
stormy night, if that would bring you out." 

"If you fellows know your business, we will not 
get on a lee shore some stormy night," the steward 
retorted. 

"Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, "you stuck to us well 
last night, didn't you?" 

"Yes, sir," I said, "but I didn't like it. I hope 
that I shall sleep to-night, sir." 

"I never saw a boy yet who could not sleep the 
whole night through after he has gotten used to 
things," said the steward. 

"Well, Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, "I remember my 
first night at sea and I guess that there is no doubt 
but what you will. I did not have a good mother to 
leave behind me. She had gone to her rest a num- 
ber of years before, and my home life was not as 
pleasant as it might have been, so I did not have 
homesickness to contend with; besides I was four 
years older than you are; I was going on seventeen, 
yet my surroundings that night were in some re- 
spects much worse than yours. I was in a storm 
on board of an old rat-trap of a collier, loaded with 
coal, in the English channel. All hands were at the 
pumps during the whole night. Well, we were just 
as liable to sink as we were to float, but we did not 
sink." 



Voyage of ""'Ti-ie Two Sisters. 



"No, we see you didn't," interrupted the steward. 
But in the first place, why did you ship on board of 
such an old box and in the last place, why did you 
not leave her after you found it out ?" 

"In the first place," said Mr. Fletcher, when I 
joined her I did not know but what she was just as 
safe as a line-of-battle ship, and in the last place, 
well, when I found it out the storm was on, and the 
old tub was safer than anything that there was in 
that vicinity at that time. 

'T tell you, Jack," continued Mr. Fletcher, "when 
the storm is raging, it's a great thing to know that 
you have got a ship under you, which is able to car- 
ry you through and that can show her heels to most 
anything you may happen to fall in with, and the 
'Two Sisters' is just that kind of a boat." 

"And that's a fact," added the steward. Now, the 
steward and Mr. Fletcher knew whereof they spoke, 
as they both had sailed m the "Two Sisters" on her 
two previous voyages to Mobile. 

After the supper had been cleared away and the 
dishes washed, and everything made secure about the 
cabins for the night, Mrs. Benjamin wished me to 
bring her a pitcher of hot water and to attend to 
a few other little things for her. I went after the 
hot water and said to the cook, "Mrs. Benjamin is 
coming on deck if it is good weather, sometime after 
eight bells to-morrow morning, and you had better 
have things all fixed up .in good shape ; she may come 
and take a look at your galley." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 89 

He was pleased that I told him. "That's rite, 
Jack," he said, "tell me 'bout tings ; I gets de galley 
ter shinin' in de mornin', time's de missis comes. 
Does dey like de frizzle spuds (fried potatoes) for der 
suppers?" 

"The captain and Mr. Stover said they were all 
right," I answered. 

"Jack, I knows dey like 'em." He then drew a 
pitcher of water from his hot water tank for me and 
said, "Begone now to the missis." 

Mrs. Benjamin told me that she would not need 
anything more for the present but that I must be 
sure and remember her glass of egg-nog a little be- 
fore seven bells in the morning. She then bid me 
good night, saying, "Jack, you need not be fright- 
ened if we do have a squall. I do not think you will 
be seasick any more, this voyage," and adding, "Jack, 
don't forget to say your prayers." 

"No, ma'am," I said, "that's what my mother told 
me." The steward told me that I would be called 
at two bells (five o'clock in the morning) and all 
about what I was expected to do, after which I went 
on deck a few minutes and then to my room. 

It was now eight bells. I was undressed and en- 
gaged in my prayers, when an awful spell of home- 
sickness came over me ; my home, my mother, brother 
and sisters, all came before me. Then I cried as 
though my heart would break, I just could not help 
it. I tell you, boys and girls, when you go away 
from home for the first time, if homesickness does 
not come around at bedtime, well, I guess that you 



90 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

are about cured. Through the excitement and duties 
of the day I had congratulated myself several times 
that I had become almost a full-fledged sailor boy, 
but alas, the night had come. After the first out- 
burst of my grief, I heard the steward approaching. 
I was ashamed to have him find me in tears, so I 
crawled into my berth, covered my head and cried 
it out in silence. 

My first day's experience at sea had passed and 
gone as a tale that is told but never to be forgotten, 
I did hear shouting some time during the night, and 
heard the wind blowing, and felt the ship quiver. 
I then realized that the predicted squall had come, 
and remembered what Mrs. Benjamin and the sec- 
ond mate had said to me, and was soon lost in sleep 
again. The second mate called me in the morning 
and said: 

"It is two bells. Jack, the cook has the coffee ready, 
now bear a hand, my lad." 

I hastily repeated the prayer, "Our Father which 
art in Heaven," and dressed myself in a jiffy and was 
at the galley. After taking a good wash I felt like 
a new boy. 

The watch on deck were getting their coffee, each 
of them bringing a tin pot of his own. I served 
the second mate with coffee and cookies, just as the 
steward had told me. He was pleased with it. 

"Jack," he said, "you didn't come on deck, last 
night, to see us in the squall?" 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 91 

"No, sir," I answered, "I just heard a little of it 
and then remembered what you told me and went on 
sleeping again." 

"That's right, my boy," he said, "but I tell you. 
Jack, it was an old hummer; we had to take in stud- 
dingsails, skysails, royals, topgallantsails, flying-jib, 
upper staysails and the mizzentopsail. We began to 
shorten sail just before eight bells, so it did not break 
in on the watch below very much, but we have got 
everything on her again now," he added, "except the 
studdingsails; the wind is a little bit too sharp for 
them." 

I thought, as I hastened to the cabin, why, he talks 
to me just as though I was an old sailor and un- 
derstood the whole business. I then went quietly 
into the after-cabin, swept and dusted it and made 
everything about it look as homelike as I knew how. 

The captain called for a cup of coffee, which I 
brought. I asked if he would have some milk (goat's 
milk). 

"No, Jack," he said, "I guess I will have a stick in 
it." I did not know at first just what he meant, but 
he told me to hand him one of several decanters 
which were in a closet nearby. 

"This kind of a stick. Jack, is only for captains 
and such like," he said, "not for cabin boys." 

"I don't want any of it, sir," I said. 

"I presume that the captain could get along just 
as well without it," remarked Mrs. Benjamin. 



92 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/" 

"Yes, yes," he said, "but wasn't I up all night 
through the squall? Besides you have all of the 
goat's milk." 

"I would be very glad to divide it with you, cap- 
tain," she retorted. 

"Thank you," he said, "but the truth of the whole 
matter is I don't like it quite as well." 

After the captain had been served with coffee, with 
the stick (cogniac) in it, I went forward to get some 
rain water to wash up the floor of the forward cabin, 
the second mate's room, and pantry. 

The cook inquired, "Do de captain like him coffee?" 

"Yes," I answered, "he put a stick in it." 

"Ee, Jack, de captain knows what's de ting dat 
makes him gude. Ee, Jack, de good Lord he sends 
de rain in de squall; the secon' mate him fill up de 
barrel, de wash him up, make him clean." 

After I had got through washing up the cabin, I 
put on a clean apron and prepared a glass of egg-nog, 
all by myself. I took it to Mrs. Benjamin, who 
tested it and pronounced it "all right." I told her all 
that the second mate had told me about the squall, 
what sails were set and present conditions of the 
weather. 

"You keep me quite well posted, Jack," she said, 
"and I thank you ; you keep a good lookout and no- 
tice what happens, and then tell me about everything 
you think that I would like to know." 

"Yes, ma'am," I answered. In the meantime the 
steward was busy getting hot biscuits ready for break- 
fast. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 93 

After the morning meal, Mrs. Benjamin came out 
on deck, and as I had prophesied, she took a look at 
the cook's galley, which greatly pleased the cook, for, 
as he said, he "would hab de tings all shinin'." She 
also took a look at our little menagerie under the 
forecastle deck, the fowl, pigs and the goat. In speak- 
ing to the captain in regard to their tour of inspection 
about the decks, she said : 

"I was very much pleased with the appearance of 
the cook and his galley. I can relish the food better, 
when I know something about the surroundings in 
which it was prepared." 

I must tell you all about my first experience (it 
proved to be my last) in milking the goat. The stew- 
ard did not know anything of it, as he was busy in 
the cabin at that time, and I thought to give him a 
surprise, but it proved to be myself who was sur- 
prised. The watch on deck were all aft, washing 
decks, so you see I had clear sailing. Of course, the 
cook sanctioned my endeavor. He furnished me with 
a bowl, and said : "Tie he head to de post, doee see ?" 

"Yes," I said, and started out. Now, when the 
goat saw me, no doubt she thought that I had some- 
thing for her to eat, and was disposed to be friendly 
with me, but when she found I had nothing, she 
looked at me and seemed to say, "Well, you never did 
feed me and I don't know that I am under any obli- 
gations to you, anyhow," and at the same time put 
on a defiant appearance. I thought about tying her 
head to a stanchion, as the cook had told me to do, 
but her head was the most dangerous part of her, 



94 Voyage of ""'The Two Sisters/^ 

so I thought if I ever was to succeed in milking her 
I had better begin at the right place. 

After some coaxing,. I ventured to put my hand on 
her back, she knew very well what I wanted, and 
while I was stroking and patting her, all at once 
she struck an attitude as much as to say, "Now go 
ahead and milk away." I was congratulating myself 
when suddenly the pesky thing seemed to change her 
mind and, whirling suddenly around, stood facing me. 
I took it for granted that she was about to butt into 
me and endeavoring to give her the right of way, I fell 
over backwards, the bowl came in contact with the 
kedge anchor, which was lashed to the heel of the 
bowsprit, and it was broken. 

Just at this moment the cook appeared on the scene 
of action and found me in a very humiliating position. 

"Ee, Jack," he exclaimed, "What's de matter wid 
degoat?" 

"There isn't anything the matter with the goat," I 
said. "The matter is with myself and the bowl." 

The cook indulged in a hearty laugh at my expense, 
and said: "Jack, ee no ties de head to de post." 

"You tie the head to the post if you want to, I 
don't. Why, the head is the very worst part of the 
thing." 

"Oh, de steward, he milk um, ye pick him up de 
bowl and heave him over the side and come to de 
galley quick," he said. 

As I came aroun'd to the galley the steward called 
me from the cabin, and as I turned to go aft the cook 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 95 

whispered : "De steward he knows notin' 'bout de 
milkin' ; I tells him notin'." 

"Cook, you are a good fellow," I said. 
"Ee, Jack, de missis tells me dat dis mornin'." 
Mrs. Benjamin was very particular one day to in- 
quire of me if I had ever milked the goat. 

"No ma'am," I said. 

"Did you ever make an attempt?" she asked. 

I hesitated a moment, but as there was not any- 
thing criminal about it, I related my experience with 
the beast. She was very much amused. 

"That kind of animal scarcely ever makes friends 
except with the one who feeds them," she said. And 
so the days came and went, and I became more and 
more familiar with the ship, and accustomed to the 
duties of a cabin boy. 

We had now been to sea twenty days, and were 
sailing in the northeast trade winds. With the ex- 
ception of several heavy squalls, however, the wind 
had been very light. We were all well on board and 
Mrs. Benjamin was much better than when we sailed. 
The first mate was not very sociable with me ; he 
would speak to me, now and then, especially on his 
morning watch, at coffee time. He always appeared 
as though he would like to have his way with me ; 
perhaps his way would have been all right sometimes, 
but it never struck me very favorably. 

The second mate and I had become quite intimate 
friends. I had spoken to each one of the crew but 
did not know any of them very well. It was the 



g6 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/' 

second mate's watch on deck, from six to eight, one 
pleasant evening, and after I had gotten through 
with my work I took a stroll forward. The first mate 
wotdd not have permitted me to have gone forward of 
the galley at that time of the evening, but he was 
below, so I took advantage of my opportunity. 

It so happened that the same man who asked me 
on our first day out if I was the captain's son was 
on the lookout. He was walking back and forth on 
the topgallant forecastle, and I ventured to engage 
in conversation with him. 

"Good evening," I said. 

"Hello, Jack, is that you?" 

"I believe it is," I answered. "What is your name?" 

"Oh, my name is Tom, that will do for the present," 
he said. 

"What fine weather this is, Tom." 

"Yes, most too fine for the owners. I hardly ever 
saw the trades so light before." 

"But what are the trades, Tom? I heard the cap- 
tain and the first mate talking about the trade winds 
yesterday, what does it mean?" 

"Well, in the first place, Jack, there are two sets 
of trade winds in the Atlantic ocean blowing con- 
tinually toward the equator, the northeast trades, in 
which we are now sailing, blow from a northeasterly 
direction toward the south ; second, the southeast 
trades which blow from the southeasterly direction 
toward the north. These winds are sometimes very 
light as we are having them now, and at other times 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 97 

are quite strong, so that we could not carry skysail, 
royal or topgallantstuddingsails." 

"But what makes them blow from one direction 
all the year round?" I asked. "It seems very strange 
to me." 

"Well," he said, "the cause of it or at least one 
of the causes, is this : you know that at the equator it 
is warm all through the year and when the sun crosses 
that parallel it is very hot; now in that vicinity the 
hot air and vapor is continually rising and when it 
reaches a sufficient altitude the earth's motion causes 
it to divide and a portion of it is carried toward the 
north and the other part of it toward the south. Of 
course, as the hot air and vapor rises a vacuum is 
formed, which is filled with cold air coming in from 
the north and south which in turn is soon heated by 
the sun's rays and rises, going on and on causing the 
same effect. These currents of cool air coming from 
the north and south form what are known as the 
trade winds, so named because of their relation to 
commerce. The Atlantic trades, in which we are 
especially interested on this voyage, originate about 
thirty degrees north latitude and forty degrees south 
latitude ; they meet about four degrees north latitude 
and are generally very light and variable in these 
latitudes." 

"Thank you, Tom, I think you have told me as 
much about them as I can remember at one time." 

"I will just give you one illustration, which will 
help you to remember what I have told you. For 
example, you take a lighted candle and open the 



98 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

door of a closed room, place the candle on the floor 
and you will find that the flame will tend inward, 
hold it over your head and you will find that the 
flame tends outward." 

"Yes, Tom, I understand better now, you have 
made it very clear." 

"How old are you, Jack, and where do you belong? 
Are your father and mother living? Have you any 
brothers or sisters?" 

"Well," I said, "in the first place I am twelve and 
a-half years old. My home is on Long Island, which 
is in the state of New York. My father and mother 
are both living, although my father is in California 
at the present time. I have two sisters and one 
brother; I have also a large number of cousins, 
aunts and uncles. Now tell me all about your home 
and folks, Tom." 

"When I was your age, Jack, I was as well pro- 
vided with home and relatives as you are. I lived in 
a little town eighteen miles from Stockholm, Sweden. 
When I was sixteen years of age my mother died. 
I have a father and sister living at home. I also 
have two brothers, one of whom is a professor in 
the University of Stockholm, and the other, the 
last I heard of him, had shipped in the American 
clipper ship, 'N. G. Palmer,' bound, to the same port 
in China as we are; I hope to meet him there. He 
sailed from Boston about a month before we left 
New York. At that time I was on a voyage from 
■'Frisco to New York in the American ship 'Chal- 
lenger,' and according to my reckoning within a hun- 
dred miles from where we are to-night. But let us 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 99 

go back to my dear old home again, just for a few 
minutes. I graduated at the age of twenty and in- 
tended to take up a profession, but I was drafted to 
serve two years in the army, and in order to get 
rid of that kind of service I quit my native land. 
That is fifteen years past ; since then I have not 
had any real home but have been sailing in American 
ships, except two years, when I was in the mines in 
California, and who knows. Jack, perhaps I have met 
your father there." 

"You might have, Tom, but why didn't you go 
back home again and see your father, brothers and 
sister? Are you afraid of being arrested for deser- 
tion?" 

'T would not tell this to an old sailor, but I can 
tell you, Jack, all about it. If my mother had lived, 
it would have been different; the last three years of 
my college life I became careless, reckless and a little 
dissipated. After I left home, I grew worse and, worse. 
No, no, it is not for fear of being arrested, but it 
is the drink. Jack, the drink — that awful drink habit, 
that has kept me from home and loved ones." 

"I am very sorry for you, Tom, but some people 
have got rid of the thirst for strong drink; say, Tom, 
why can't you? There are some nice temperance 
books aft in the library, I will bring you one to read." 

"I will be glad to read the book. Jack, and will try 
again with all my might to overcome the habit. Per- 
haps you can help me." 

"I would be glad to help you, Tom." 



lOO Voyage of ""'The Two Sisters/' 

"I thank you, Jack, with all my heart. It is eight 
bells now, so good-bye; we will have another talk 
soon." 

I then bade him good night, and hurried aft be- 
fore the first mate got on deck, that I might not 
incur his displeasure. After doing a few things for 
Mrs. Benjamin I went to my room. I was still a 
little homesick, just about bedtime, yet I was getting 
bravely over it. 

The next day, while at work in the after-cabin oil- 
ing the hard wood, I told Mrs. Benjamin all about 
my friend Tom. 

'T am glad," she said, "that he has told you so 
much about himself, perhaps we can help him." Then 
she picked out from the library a temperance book 
and some tracts, also a Swedish Bible ; the book was 
to be returned, the Bible was to be his own. "Now, 
Jack," she said, "Here is a book for each one of the 
crew with some tracts enclosed. You may say that 
we will be glad to exchange them at any time for 
others, and if any are without a Bible we will supply 
them. To-morrow is Sunday, and you can take the 
books forward in the afternoon, when you get 
through with your work." 

"Yes, ma'am," I said, "I think that they will be 
pleased with them ; I am sure Tom will." 

"I do not understand, Jack, how a college gradu- 
ate, as you say Tom is, can be contented in spending 
his time as a sailor before the mast." 
• "But he is not contented, ma'am," I said, "that is 
just what he was telling me about; he said that it 
was the drink, the drink." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. iot 

"Yes, Jack, I remember now you told me that be- 
fore, that awful drink habit ; yes, that explains it all. 
I hope that your future conversations will be as 
profitable to each of you as the first seems to have 
been; by the way. Jack, if any of the crew at any 
time should want clothing for hot or cold weather, 
boots, shoes, and also tobacco, we will supply them 
for just what the things cost. Jack, do you know 
why it is necessary to have all these things on board? 
I will tell you. Men sometimes come on board and 
go to sea with scarcely any clothing." 

"That seems very strange, ma'am," I said. 

"No, it is not strange," she said, "it is the drink 
habit; simply cause and effect." 

After dinner had been cleared away I went forward 
to have a little talk with the cook. "Cook," I said, 
"Do you read?" 

"Jack, de ye suppose I'se de heathen? Corse I 
reads ; I reads de French." 

"Would you like for me to bring you a French 
Bible?" I asked. 

"De Bible, ee dat's de Lord's book, ee. Jack, I 
like um. Does de missis have 'em?" 

"Yes," I answered. 

"Jack, I makes de hash, I tells ye how to make 
um." So we went through the process and he gave 
me a very minute description of everything pertain- 
ing to it. I appreciated his kindness in teaching me 
things along his line of work, but just at that time 
I was more interested in learning about the ropes 



I02 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

and the sails than I was in making hash, although 
I always found that the hash was a very necessary 
addition to the morning and evening meal. 

Now, it was the second mate's watch on deck. 
"Jack, are you through with your afternoon's work?" 

"Yes, sir," I answered. 

"Well, come then and I will tell you some of the 
ropes. Now, Jack, suppose I order you to stand by 
the mainskysail-halyards, where would you go ?" 

"Don't know, sir," I said. 

"You would as likely stand by the maintopsail- 
halyards." 

"No, sir," I said. 

"Why?" he asked. 

"Because, sir, the maintopsail is a larger sail than 
the skysail and it must have larger ropes." 

"Jack, your theory is all right, but look, here is 
something practical. There is a small rope, and ac- 
cording to your theory it must belong to a small 
sail, and you are right, for so it does, but follow it 
with your eye, where does it lead? You see that 
it leads up parallel with the skysail backstay and 
goes through the skysail-mast down to the yard. 
Now, Jack, what is the name of this rope?" 

"Mainskysail-halyards, sir." 

"Yes, they are on the port side, you see, and are 
always made fast to this belaying pin. 

"Now, Jack, for the mainroyal-halyards ; in the 
first place, get your eye on the center of the royal- 
yard where the halyards are attached, now where do 
they lead?" 



A Cabin Boyd's Story. 103 

"They lead up through the mast, sir, and down 
along the royalbackstay and are made fast here on 
the starboard." 

"That's correct, Jack, you see that the maintop- 
gallant-halyards lead down on the port side and the 
topsail-halyards down the starboard. Now, Jack, by 
this method you can trace out and locate every piece 
of running rigging. Of course, you must trace them 
all out in the day, so that you can locate any one of 
them in the darkest night. For example," he said, 
"here are three ropes. You trace them and you will 
find that they are the mainskysail-sheet, clewline 
and buntline. You notice that they lead down 
through the fair-leader, which is seized on the after- 
shroud. Now, this fair-leader has three holes, the 
forward hole is for the sheet, the next for the clewline 
and the after one for the buntline. This same is true 
of the royal, topgallant, topsail and mainsail gear. 
All lead down through their respective fair-leaders 
on either side, both fore and main, with this excep- 
tion. You will notice when you trace them out that 
the fore and maintopsail sheets, the fore and main 
buntlines, and a few other ropes, lead down on either 
side of their respective masts. Now, Jack, you go 
forward and trace out all of the halyards that you can 
find there and then come and tell me just how they 
lead and where each one of them is made fast. Never 
mind the studdingsail-halyards, they are sometimes 
changed from side to side, but the others always lead 
the same way and are made fast at the same place." 

As I w^ent forward I found my friend, Tom, who 
was working on a piece of rigging- on the port side. 



I04 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

I told him that Mr. Fletcher had sent me to trace 
out all the halyards, foreward of the mainmast. 

"Well, Jack, that's easy enough." 

"Yes, Tom, I suppose it is to anyone who knows 
aU about it." 

"That is very good logic. Jack. I guess I can help 
you out a little." 

"I wish you would, Tom." 

"Well, in the first place. Jack, here are the flying- 
jib and foretopmaststaystail-halyards. You see that 
they lead along down the forward-swifter, and are 
made fast right here on the port side. The jib-hal- 
yards lead down the forward-swifter on the star- 
board side. You see that they lead up to the head 
of these sails, consequently they must be their hal- 
yards. Now, you go and stand on the after-part of 
the main deck on the weather side. You will have 
a good view from that position of all the other hal- 
yards." 

I went to the place designated, and followed the 
rule that Mr. Fletcher had given me of tracing out 
each rope by itself. I very soon located the halyards 
and rehearsed them all over to Tom. He said they 
were all right. 

As soon as Mr. Fletcher was unoccupied, I pre- 
sented myself before him, saying that I had located 
all the halyards forward of the mainmast. 

"Well, we will see," he said, as I followed him to 
the forward end of the poop deck. He then ordered 
me to stand by the flying-jib halyard, which I did as 
quickly as possible. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 105 

"Jib-halyards," he cahed out. 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered; and so by this method 
he kept on drilling me until I had located to his 
satisfaction, also to my own great delight, all the 
hal3^ards, clewlines, sheet, buntlines, downhauls, etc. 

"That will do. Come aft with me," he said. I fol- 
lowed him to the mizzenmast. "Now, Jack, the miz- 
zen-gear is easily located, here are the throat-hal- 
yards of the spanker leading down parallel with the 
after-shroud on the port side. The peek-halyards are 
right opposite, on the starboard side. The mizzen- 
topsail-halyards lead down on the port side. The 
clewline, sheet and tack, you see, come down along- 
side of the mast. Here are also the mizzenstaysail 
and the mizzentopmaststaysail-halyards, one on 
either side. 

"Now, Jack, let us go over the braces. One end 
of the braces is attached to the ends of the yards, 
as you see, but it is the other end of them that we 
want to locate, just now, and we can do it by using 
our eyes. You see that the lower and topsail-braces, 
both fore and main, stand out separately by them- 
selves, and anyone can see at once just where they 
are made fast. The maintopgallantroyal and skysail- 
braces lead across to the mizzen and mizzentopmast- 
heads and down through the fair leaders on the two 
forward shrouds on either side. The foretopgallant 
and royal braces lead across to the maintopmast and 
topgallantmast-heads and down to the fife rail, around 
the mainmast on either side. 



io6 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/'' 

"Now, Jack, that will do for this time, but when 
you get a chance study one sail by itself and all of 
the ropes belonging to it and go over them in your 
mind and with your friend Tom, and you will soon 
know them all as well as the rest of us." 

'T thank you, Mr. Fletcher, for all that you have 
told me. I hope to graduate some time from a cabin 
boy to a real sailor boy, and then I would like to be 
in your watch." 

"All right, my hearty. I will be glad to have you, 
but," he added, "the first mate always has the first 
choice." 

Before preparing the supper table I made myself 
tidy and then found the steward. He told me just 
what dishes to bring forward after I had set the 
table. The cook had noticed the second mate's inter- 
est in me and that he had been telling me about the 
running-rigging, and he said : "What's de cabin boy 
to know 'bout de ropes." 

"But I don't expect to be cabin boy all of my life. 
Cook." 

"Dat's rite. Jack; when ye gits to be de capan ye 
takes me fur de steward, ee?" 

"Yes, Cook, that will be all right, for you will 
know just what I like." 

At five bells, after I had finished my evening work, 
Mrs. Benjamin gave me the books, which I was to 
distribute among the crew. She had selected a book 
especially for Tom, and a French Bible for the cook. 

"If any of them cannot read English," she said, 
"we have Bibles in four other languages ; French, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 107 

German, Swedish and Spanish, also tracts, but all 
the other books that we have are in English." 

I then told Mrs. Benjamin what Mr. Fletcher had 
taught me about the ropes. "That is very good of 
him," she said. "Does Mr. Stover teach you any- 
thing?" 

"Yes, ma'am, he has told me about somethings, 
but the more that the second mate tries to teach 
me the less Mr. Stover appears to think of me. He 
does not seem to want me to talk with anyone." 

"I am sorry, Jack, Mr. Stover has not an agreeable 
disposition. Perhaps you don't like him any better 
than he appears to like you, and that is not right, 
you know. You must be very respectful toward him 
and very careful not to offend in any way. The 
captain has told me that he is a good officer." 

At this time the captain came into the cabin. 
"Jack," he said, "in the after state room there is a 
box of tobacco which I have opened. If any of the 
crew want some at any time you can supply them. 
Ten plugs goes for a pound. Mrs. Benjamin will 
keep the accounts." 

"Captain," said Mrs. Benjamin, "if you will allow 
me I had rather not attend store on the Sabbath 
day." 

"That's right," he said. "Jack, we will close up 
every Saturday night." He then consulted his barom- 
eter and said, "Mrs. Benjamin, if we get through 
these latitudes without having a hurricane, we shall 
consider ourselves very lucky chaps." 

"I trust thatwe shall always be ready for the inevit- 
able," she said. 



io8 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

"Well," the captain replied, "we will do the very 
best we can to keep away from them, but if they 
come we will do our very best in them. However, 
there is no indication of a hurricane at the present 
time." 

I had now finished picking up things about the 
cabin, and making everything secure for the night, 
as I did every evening, for we never knew what 
might happen before morning. As I was about to 
go forward to get a pitcher of hot water, the cap- 
tain said: "Jack, you tell the cook that when he 
is roasting the coffee to be careful and not burn it." 

"Aye, aye, sir" I answered. 

The cook acknowledged that he had burned the 
coffee, and said: "I no burns him termoro', Jack." 

"Cook, were you ever in a hurricane?" 

"Ee, Jack, I lives in de hurricane country." 

"Does it blow very, very hard?" 

"It's not doin' anything else but blowin', rainin' 
and scattering tings." 

"What sails does a ship carry in a hurricane?" I 
asked. 

"Dey takes in all the sails, Jack, and de ship just 
goes like de wind." 

"But, Cook, suppose that there is land in the way?" 

"Den de ship goes on de land, that's all." 

"My! Cook," I said, "I'd like to see one, but I 
hope we won't have any, though." 

"I hopes not dis voyage, Jack, I no like him." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 109 

When I came aft with the water, Mrs. Benjamin 
dismissed me for the night. Now the steward al- 
ways told me at night of any especial work for me 
to do the next day. "Jack," he said, "to-morrow 
is Sunday, you know, and there is not any unneces- 
sary work in our department on that day, but after 
our regular duties are over we can sit down and see 
the ship sail on, or perhaps we will enjoy a sailor's 
delight, that is, overhauling our chests." After look- 
ing over some of the books which I was to dis- 
tribute among the crew I went to my room. 

The next day, Sunday, was clear and warm, wind 
very light and variable. I heard the captain and 
first mate talking about the ship's position. They 
concluded that we had run out of the northeast 
trades, as we were in six degrees north latitude. It 
was now the twenty-fourth day of October, conse- 
quently, w^e had been one month at sea. After din- 
ner had been cleared away I took the Bibles, books 
and tracts, and started forward, with my arms full. 
It was the first mate's watch on deck. He asked 
me what I was going to do. I told him that I was 
going to distribute the books among the crew. Let 
the men come aft, he said, for their books if they 
want Bibles. I explained to him that Mrs. Benja- 
min had told me to take them. That did not help 
matters any, however, as she suddenly appeared on 
deck. He did not order me back, and I proceeded. 
I first called on the cook, he seemed glad to get a 
Bible and some tracts in French. 

I then went around to the forecastle. The men 
were all engaged in overhauling their chests, dis- 



no Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

playing their shore clothing, showing each other 
pictures of loved ones, reading old letters, etc. 

My friend Tom saw me coming, and said to the 
men: "Here comes Jack with a load of books, I 
suppose that the mistress has sent them to us." 

"You are right, Tom," I said, as I laid the books 
down before them, "and Mrs. Benjamin told me 
that you may return them for others at any time." 
I had intimated to Tom the book which had been 
especially selected for him. 

"I tell you, men, it is a good thing to have a true 
woman on board of a ship to sail with," he said. 
"It makes us think of our mothers and sisters. I 
think that I will take a Swedish Bible and this book," 
he added, as he picked out the one I had indicated. 
So they all chose books for themselves, also one for 
the man at the wheel. Some of them had Bibles. 

The carpenter had access to the cabin, more or 
less, and could choose books from the library for 
himself. At four bells that evening a great change 
in the weather took place. A sullen darkness settled 
over and around us, while it was yet day. The cap- 
tain said that a huricane was approaching. All hands 
were ordered on deck to shorten sail, even the cook 
and steward were not exempt. Mrs. Benjamin took 
up a position in the companionway and notified the 
captain every few minutes of the barometrical 
changes. In a fore and aft-rigged vessel, when the 
sails are down the decks are comparatively clear of 
ropes, but on a square-rigged vessel, when the sails 
are all clewed up, the decks are just literally covered 



A Cabin Boy's Story. hi 

with running-rigging. Everything was taken in ex- 
cept the foretopsail, foretopmaststaysail and mizzen- 
staysail. While all hands were aloft furling the sails, 
I was on deck coiling up the ropes. The men were 
ordered to make the sails as secure as possible. 
After which the mainskysail and royal-yards were 
sent down and triced up in the lower rigging. There 
was not a breath of wind at this time and the sea 
was as smooth as glass. The men were all down 
from aloft awaiting orders. It was very dark and 
as still as death. 

Sailors, as a rule, do not mind a regular storm, but 
they all fear a hurricane. A minute or two before 
eight bells we were much startled, for everyone 
heard distinctly the tones of a bell, and we knew 
that there was no ship in the vicinity, as there was 
none in sight at sundown, and it had been a dead 
calm ever since. In a few moments the captain ex- 
claimed: "Men, there must be a ship somewhere 
in that direction just striking eight bells. She may 
be a good many miles away, the tone waves of the 
bell come to us on the surface of the water as the 
atmosphere is so heavy that they cannot rise. And 
the probabilities are," he added, "the storm will 
strike us from that direction. So we watched and 
waited in great suspense. All hands became very 
anxious, which fact caused me to be alarmed. We 
did not have a long time to wait. 

At one bell (half-past eight P. M.), a little air 
sprang up on the starboard beam, accompanied by 
a long heavy roll of the sea. All hands knew that 
it was the forerunner of the storm, which would 



112 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

soon burst upon us in all its fury. The following 
orders were quickly given : ''Starboard your helm," 
"Stand by the foretopsail-halyajrds," "Reef tackles 
and braces." In the meantime, the captain had or- 
dered Mrs. Benjamin to go below and me to stand 
in the companionway so as to keep in touch with 
her. There was no thunder or lightning, but the 
darkness was intense. As soon as the ship had been 
gotten before the wind, other orders were given : 
"Lower away foretopsail," "Haul out the reef- 
tackles," "Steady the braces." "Aye, aye, sir," they 
all answered. The foretopsail came down by the 
run, reef-tackles were hauled out, the yard was made 
secure by the braces. The mate cried out : "Lay 
aloft now and close-reef the sail, bear a hand, bear 
a hand." The second mate jumped into the rigging, 
saying: "Come on, men, come on." 

Now, as the men were ascending the rigging on 
either side, the second mate leading the way, a 
strange sound was heard coming from aloft, like the 
cry of a child who was suffering great pain. The 
second mate thought at first it was one of the crew 
who had fallen, but in a few moments all these were 
accounted for. Still the moaning and crying went 
on and was heard distinctly all about the decks. The 
men became much alarmed and came down. The 
captain and mate, cook and steward were gathered 
with them. The fast approaching storm was for- 
gotten, for the time, not even Tom or Mr. Fletcher, 
perhaps the two bravest men on board of the ship, 
dared to go aloft to investigate. If there had had 
been any real danger in sight, they would not have 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 113 

hesitated a moment, but they all believed that it 
was something supernatural. Mrs. Benjamin knew 
that something unusual had happened and she asked 
me if some one had been hurt. 

"I don't know, ma'am," I answered. Shall I run 
and find out?" 

"Yes, Jack," she said, "go." Now, I was glad that 
I had been ordered to leave my station, and while 
I was fearful as anyone of them, yet I wanted to 
get with the others. Just as I arrived upon the 
scene of disorder, the cook began to call out some- 
thing in French, which did not help matters any, as 
none of us could understand him. However, he 
soon got together what little English he could com- 
mand, and finding the captain, he cried out : 

"De goat, de goat, cap'n de goat he gets fast in 
the halyards." 

This explained the whole situation. The goat had 
been disturbed by the unusual noise that was going 
on, and had probably scented the approaching storm, 
and was meandering about the main deck. When 
the foretopsail came down by the run, the poor goat 
was caught by the halyards and was taken up and 
became jammed in the upper block. All hands com- 
prehended the cook's explanation in a moment and 
went to work with a will. Mr. Stover, the cook and 
the steward extricated the goat, which was so badly 
bruised that it was killed and thrown overboard. 

The captain asked me why I had left my station. 
I told him that Mrs. Benjamin ordered me to come 
forward and find out what was the matter. I then ran 



114 • Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/ 



aft into the cabin and told her all about it, and that 
the goat had been killed and thrown into the sea. 

"Poor thing," she said. "I am glad, Jack, that the 
cook solved the mystery as quickly as he did." 

"I presume that we are all ashamed of ourselves," 
I said, "for being frightened so easily." 

"Well, Jack, I don't know about that, but I do 
know that anything which appears to be supernatural 
always frightens people, whether they be on land or 
sea." 

After assuring Mrs. Benjamin that we were ready 
for the storm, and that the captain had ordered me 
to say to her that everything was all right on deck, 
she said: "I am glad of it; tell him I am not afraid." 

As soon as I had found the captain, I delivered the 
message. "All right. Jack," he said. I then took 
up my position in the companionway again. While 
I was in the cabin, they close-reefed the foretopsail 
and took in the mizzenstaysail. The ship was roll- 
ing violently, but there was very little wind at that 
time. The captain and first mate were standing a 
few feet forward of the companionway holding a 
consultation. 

"I think," the captain remarked, "the wind will be 
preceded by a very high wave, which will be our 
greatest danger; if it does not break over us, we 
shall be all right." 

"The wind will strike us, very heavy sir," said the 
mate. 

"Yes," answered the captain, "and as soon as the 
ship gathers headway we will take in the foretopsail 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 115 

and run under bare poles with the foretopmaststay- 
sail as a precaution against broaching to. You 
know," continued the captain, "that we will be run- 
ning off our course." Just at this moment, the 
sound of the storm was heard approaching from the 
port quarter. 

"It is coming," shouted the captain. 

The mate echoed the warning, and gave the or- 
der, "Stand by the foretopsail." The second mate 
and my friend Tom were at the wheel, which fact 
caused me to feel safer. Indeed, the captain himself 
had picked them out as the two best men to steer 
the ship through this ordeal. 

"Keep the ship directly before the wind," the cap- 
tain called out to the men, "your lives depend 
upon it." 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered Mr. Fletcher full of 
confidence. I rushed into the cabin and told Mrs. 
Benjamin that the storm was very near to us, and 
where all hands were stationed, that there were two 
men lashed at the wheel, the captain was lashed on 
the forward side of the mizzenmast, the mate for- 
ward of the mainmast, and the rest of the crew were 
on the maindeck ready to take in the foretopsail. I 
then hurried back to the companionway. At that 
moment the ship began to tremble from stem to 
stern. 

"All hands stand by," shouted the captain through 
his trumpet. The storm rushed upon us with a 
mighty roar. It seemed as though we were going 
up into the air as the ship mounted the high way, 



ii6 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

like the gallant bark that she was. As the ship 
reached the top of the wave the wind struck us in 
all its fury. The foretopsail was instantly filled 
and the ship darted forward as quickly as a wild 
deer released. Now, all of this might have been a 
sublime sight in the daytime, but in the darkness 
of the night it was just awful. After the tidal wave 
had swept by us the sea was not so high, for the 
wind blew the tops of the waves off and leveled them 
somewhat. We shipped very little water at any one 
time but the decks were filled with foam. It blew 
so heavily for a half hour that a man was not safe 
on the poopdeck without being lashed. 

The captain ordered me to say to Mrs. Benjamin 
that the worst was over; that the ship was scudding 
before the wind and making very good weather of 
it, and that she could lie down in safety. 

"I am very, very thankful, Jack," she said, "but 
be careful." 

I then gave her my version of the whole situation. 
'Tt must have been fearful," she said. 

"Yes, ma'am," I answered, "and it is bad enough 
yet, but the captain said that we are out of danger. 
I think that you had better take his advice and lie 
down, perhaps he will not come into the cabin for 
sometime yet." 

"Yes, Jack, you may tell the captain that I am 
all right and that I send my congratulations to him 
for his good seamanship." The captain was glad to 
hear that Mrs. Benjamin was so courageous and con- 
fident. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 117 

The captain and first mate were consulting with 
each other about heaving the ship to. The mate 
remarked : "The wind is not quite as strong as it 
was, though the sea is running a httle heavier, but 
I think that she would lay all right. If one of these 
fellows should happen to board us," he added, "I am 
afraid of these heavy spars, which we have here on 
deck. If they should ever break away they would 
make a perfect wreck of us." 

"That's a fact," the captain answered, "but they 
were made fast to stay and I don't know that we 
can do anything to make them more secure. I 
think we will risk it." He then ordered that the 
head sails be tied up more securely and that the 
foretopsail be taken in and furled snug. 

A thrilling event happened just at this time. While 
the men were coming in from the jib-boom, one of 
them lost his hold and fell. Immediately the cry 
went up and was echoed all along the deck: 

"Man overboard! Man overboard to starboard!". 

The ship was running before the wind and going 
through the water swiftly. Several ropes were 
thrown over the side. The captain rushed to the 
starboard side and threw over more ropes. In the 
meantime the man caught one of the ropes, which 
had been thrown abaft the fore-rigging by the cook, 
and was climbing up on deck by the main chains. 

The captain caught sight of him and helped him 
on board and said to him : "My man, you may con- 
sider yourself resurrected, for if you had not caught 



ii8 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

one of those ropes, there is no power on board this 
ship which could have saved you." 

The man was rather weak, after going through 
such a dangerous experience. They helped him for- 
ward and after he had changed his clothing and taken 
some hot coffee, which the cook had prepared for 
all hands, he was all right again. In the meantime 
the foretopsail had been taken in, and after it had 
been furled the head yards were braced up sharp on 
the port tack. It was now seven bells, (eleven-thirty 
P. M.) 

The storm was still raging fiercely, yet it was not 
as dark and the clouds were not so heavy as at first. 
The captain and mate had now decided to heave the 
ship to. The main topsail had been furled close reef 
and was now set, or rather partly set, as only the 
starboard sheet was hauled out, making the sail a 
goose-winged shape. The mizzenstaysail was also 
set. Everything was now ready to bring the ship to 
the wind. The captain warned all hands to take care 
of themselves. I was ordered below and the com- 
panionway was closed. I remained in the entry way 
and listened. 

The captain called out to the mate : "Mr. Stover, 
what do you think about it?" 

"Now is a good time, captain," he said. 
"Let her come, then." 

Then the following orders were given simul- 
taneously: "Take in the foretopmaststaysail," "Hard 
port your helm," "Starboard main braces." As the 
ship was coming to the wind a heavy sea boarded us 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 119 

amidship. The water rushed fore and aft like a flood, 
but did no especial damage. I knew by the motion 
of the ship that we were now laying head to the 
wind and sea on the port tack. I then went into 
the after-cabin. Mrs. Benjamin called out: 

"Is that you, Jack?" 

"Yes, ma'am," I answered. 

"Well, Jack, how is everybody on deck and what 
is the condition of the weather?" 

"Everybody on deck is all right, ma'am," I an- 
swered, "but the storm is still very severe." 

"Well, Jack, I am glad that it is as well with us 
as it is." 

It was now midnight. The companionway had 
been reopened and I went out on deck again. The 
watch was ordered below. When Mr. Fletcher and 
Tom had been relieved from the wheel, having been 
there over five hours, the captain said to them : 

"You did well, men, you did well." 

"She steered very well, sir," Mr. Fletcher answered, 
"Besides I had a good man with me." 

"You're right," said the captain. 

The steward and I now prepared a lunch for the 
captain and officers. The cook had already provided 
for the crew. Mrs. Benjamin came into the forward 
cabin and sat with them at the table. As they talked 
over their experience during the last five hours, the 
mate remarked : 

"I have been through typhoons, pamperios and 
hurricanes before, but I never, in all the days of my 



I20 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/'' 

life, saw it blow harder or rain faster than it did 
from seven to nine last night. Why, sometimes I 
could scarcely tell whether I was overboard or on 
deck, it was so fearfully dark," he said. 

''Yes," said the captain, "I think that we were very 
fortunate to come out of it without losing our spars. 
I judge, Mr. Stover," he added, "that we are on the 
southern edge of the storm and that it will pass by 
us sometime before noon." 

"Captain," said Mrs. Benjamin, "Jack gave me a 
very good account, from time to time, about what 
was going on, on deck." 

The captain turned to me and said, "That's right, 
Jack, that's what you are here for, to look out for 
us all; you did your part well, my boy, and now go 
and turn in and have a good sleep before morning." 
I was pleased to hear these few words of commenda- 
tion from Mrs. Benjamin and the captain, and glad 
to know that I had taken some little part in the ex- 
traordinary events of the night. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "I think that I will 
go to my room now; if the wind should moderate a 
little, and the ship is inclined to fall off, you had bet- 
ter haul out the weather maintopsail sheet." 

"Aye, aye, sir, she is lying like a duck, sir, at the 
present time," he answered. 

After clearing the table, I went to my berth, and 
soon was lost in sleep. 

The next morning it moderated before noon, as 
the captain anticipated, and by four bells in the even- 
ing we had sent up the royal and skysail-yards and 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 121 

made all sail. The wind was very light, and the sea 
quite smooth again. My friend, Tom, was on the 
lookout from six to eight. I was glad to get for- 
ward to have a talk with him. I found him walking 
up and down the topgallantforecastle deck. 

"Hello, Tom, is that you?" I inquired. 

"Yes, Jack, it is I, come up and let us have an 
hour together." 

"There is a great change in the weather, Tom, 
since last night." 

"Yes, Jack, I never saw so great a change in such 
a short time. It was just howling last night at six 
bells; I don't believe that the 'Two Sisters' ever 
went through the water as quickly before, as she 
did while we were running under the close reef fore- 
topsail. I tell you. Jack, after all, I had rather go 
through one of these hurricanes, with a goat thrown 
in, that is, if it does not overtake one napping and 
the ship is properly handled, as the 'Two Sisters' 
was last night, than to be hove to off Cape Horn 
in the winter, twenty or thirty days on a stretch." 

"That must be awful, Tom." 

"Put it down stronger than that. Jack, it is just 
dreadfully awful. Yet sailors will throw their money 
away for drink and go through the same hard ex- 
perience over and over again." 

"Tom, were you ever so foolish as that?" 

"Yes, Jack, I spent all the wages of my last voyage 
and two months' advance on this trip in a week's 
time, and then came to sea without having half of 
the things that I needed to keep me comfortable." 



122 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

"Mrs. Benjamin told me, Tom, that was the rea- 
son why it was necessary to have, on board a ship, 
tobacco, clothing and other things for the crew." 

"Yes, Jack, that's what sailors call the slop-chest, 
because the goods are always of a very inferior qual- 
ity and, as a rule, sea prices are charged." 

"But, Tom, Mrs. Benjamin told me to say that 
whatever you needed would be supplied at cost 
prices." 

"Jack, I am very glad to know of one exception to 
the rule. We sailors are to blame, but there are 
others who are also to blame. There are so many 
people who are waiting and watching to take ad- 
vantage of the weaknesses of their fellowmen, and 
who are making a living off of their acquired appe- 
tites. Jack, these kind of people — there are man}^ of 
them in every port — we call landsharks. It is my 
earnest purpose and determination. Jack, from this 
time, henceforth and forever, to keep out of their 
clutches. But there goes eight bells. When you 
get a chance, bring eight pounds of tobacco forward. 
I want one pound, and the other men will take the 
rest." 

"All right, Tom, I will meet you again soon." 

"So long. Jack." 

As I was going to my room, I met Mr. Stover in 
the companionway. I ventured to say, "Good night, 
sir." 

"Where you have been?" he inquired, in a very 
unpleasant tone of voice?" 

"Talking with my friend Tom, sir." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 123 



"Talking with your friend, Tom, eh? You and 
your friend Tom are getting too chummy altogether, 
I would like to have both of you in my watch." I 
passed by him as quickly and as respectfully as I 
could 

A short time after noon, on the third day after the 
hurricane, a sailor shouted from the foretopsail-yard, 
"Sail, ho!" 

"Where away," called out the first mate. 

"One point on the lee bow, sir," came the answer. 
In a short time the stranger was visible from the 
deck. We were both heading directly for each other. 

"Captain," said Mr. Stover, "She is not an Amer- 
ican ship. Her sails are too dull-looking for cotton 
duck." 

When we came near enough to exchange signals, 
she proved to be an English ship, "The Henry Alice," 
bound from Montevidio, S. A., for Liverpool. As 
she was the first ship of any kind we had seen since 
we left New York, all hands turned out to take a look 
at her. The wind was on the port beam, but very 
light. The sea was apparently smooth, at least we 
thought so until we came near to the stranger, when 
we were surprised to see her rolling about like a 
toy-ship, now showing her high side and then her 
bright copper well down below the load line, and 
then, apparently, the hull was almost submerged. A 
long swell was running, and we were going through 
the same manoeuvres as our stranger friend, but 
had scarcely noticed it before. We passed her on the 
port side. Our positions were written on blackboards 



124 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

and placed in the mizzen-rigging. As the captain 
talked with the Englishman through a megaphone, 
Mr. Stover took down her position. They had not 
suffered from the hurricane and had encountered 
only slight effects of it, and would report us if they 
fell in with any American-bound ship. The men sa- 
luted each other as we passed by waving their caps. 

The next day we fell in with the celebrated bark 
"Grape-shot." This bark was well known for her 
sailing qualities. We came upon her in very light 
weather, and were in close company with her for 
eighteen hours during a dead calm. The "Grape-shot" 
was an American bark, forty-eight days out from 
New Orleans, bound for Pernambuco, S. A. While 
our position tallied with that of "The Henry Alice," 
there being only three miles difference in our reckon- 
ing, yet we and our American friend did not agree. 
The captain of the "Grape-shot" sent his first mate 
on board to compare figures with us. After going 
over our reckoning with Captain Benjamin and Mr. 
Stover, and taking several observations together, he 
decided that it was their chronometer which was at 
fault. Our visitor was pleased with our ship, but 
was surprised that we came upon them as quickly 
as we did. 

"That's easily explained," said Captain Benjamin. 
"I will tell you, sir," he continued, "since the 'Grape- 
shot' was rated to be the fastest American bark 
afloat the 'Two Sisters' has been built." 

The visiting officer, wishing to defend the sailing 
qualities of his ship, said: 'T admit that fact, captain, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 125 

and all it implies, but, sir, we have just been setting 
up all of our standing rigging. That, you know, 
makes some difference in very light weather. I hope, 
sir, to have a good, stiff breeze as we part company 
and then the 'Grape-shot' will speak for herself." 

"All right, sir," replied Captain Benjamin, "I 
reckon that the 'Two Sisters' also will do some talk- 
ing about that time." All but one of the boat's crew 
had come on deck and were chatting with our men. 
After a very pleasant and profitable half hour had 
been spent together, the officer and his boat's crew 
returned to their ship. 

At eight bells (four P. M.) a heavy squall struck 
us about two points forward of the port beam. At 
first we did not take in anything but our studding- 
sails. The "Grape-shot," being lighter loaded than 
we were, gained on us a little, but the wind increased, 
and the skysail, royals and upper staysails were 
taken in. Then the "Two Sisters" settled down to 
business, and as the darkness gathered that even- 
ing the celebrated bark, "Grape-shot," was well astern 
of us and we saw her no more. 

The next day after the squall, at noon, I overheard the 
captain and first mate talking about the ship's position. 
Mr. Stover remarked : "The squall last night helped us 
to make up some of the east longitude that we lost while 
running to the westward during the hurricane." 

"Yes," replied the captain, "we are at the present time 
in 26 degrees 20 minutes west longitude, and 2 degrees 30 
minutes north latitude. I hope to cross the line, if pos- 
sible, in 25 west longitude. If the wind is favorable we 



126 Voyage of '"The Two Sisters/'' 

should make it by tomorrow afternoon, but we are right 
in the midst of the doldrums now and cannot depend on 
a steady breeze from any direction." 

"The probabilities are," said M^ir. Stover, "that from 
time to time we shall have a few more favorable squalls, 
sir." 

That evening I took the tobacco forward that Tom had 
ordered. I counted out ten plugs for each of the crew 
and took a list of their names. I then sat down to have 
some conversation with Tom, when one of the men said : 

"Jack, here comes the mate round on the port side." 

I knew very well that he was after me, so I beat a hasty 
retreat around the startoard side. 

As I passed by the after corner of the center house, I 
heard him inquire — "Is that boy. Jack, here?" 

Tom answered, "He is not here, sir." 

"Well, he was here, and where is he now?" reiterated 
the mate. 

"He brought some tobacco forward," said one of the 
men, "but he's gone aft now, sir." 

"Look here, men, I want you to understand if you have 
not anything to do but yarn with that boy, I'll find some- 
thing for you," growled the mate as he started aft. I 
then slipped along into the galley. 

"Eh, Jack, de mate am lookin' for ye," whispered the 
cook. 

"Yes, Cook, but I'm here in the right place, ain't I ?" 
"Ee, Jack, ye and de cook am in de same bisnis." 
The mate followed me up and said, "Boy, you were 
in the forecastle chinning with the crew, eh ?" 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 127 

"I carried ten pounds of tobacco forward, sir." 

"You always have some excuse. Didn't I tell you that 
they could come aft after tobacco ?" 

"But the captain told me, sir," I endeavored to explain. 

"None of your back talk, but I'll tell you right here, 
if I ever catch you spinning yarns with any of the men in 
my watch on deck, I will put a rope's end on you." 

I remembered what Mrs. Benjamin had told me and 
said nothing. When he had gone up on the poop deck, the 
cook said : 

"Jack, de mate, he am de debbil, I no like 'im." 

"Cook, Mrs. Benjamin says that we must like every- 
body." 

"De mistress says de rite ting. Jack, ye likes 'im if 
ye kin, but I no likes 'im." 

It was now eig-ht bells and a few minutes after Mr. 
Stover had gone below, I asked the second mate if I 
could go forward and have a talk with Tom. 

"All right, Jack, my lad, go ahead and learn all you 
can. If we have a favorable breeze tonight I expect that 
old Neptune will call on us some time tomorrow after- 
noon. Remember it is my eight hours out tonight, so 
you had better turn in at two bells and be ready to turn 
out bright and early in the morning and get the coffee 
ready." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. I found Tom walking 
the main deck. 

"Hello, Jack," he said, "I thought that you had turned 
in." 

"The second mate said that I might have an hour with 
you, Tom. Did the tobacco suit you?" 



128 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

"Oh, the best of it, Jack, is filthy enough. A hog would 
not touch it. I hope you will never acquire the appetite 
for strong drink or even tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco 
may be useful for some purposes outside of us but not 
inside." 

"Why is it, Tom, that when people know what is right, 
they will still persist in doing wrong?" 

"Because, Jack, like myself, they never have had the 
power nor even sought for it from the right source to 
govern themselves." 

"By the way the second mate told me that we were in 
the doldrums and that we would cross the line tomorrow 
if the wind was favorable. He also said that old Neptune 
might call on us. What does it all mean?" 

"Well, Jack, in the first place we will begin Mnth the 
doldrums. They are the region of calms and variable 
winds. The belt runs parallel with the equator and ex- 
tends from three to four degrees on each side of it, North 
and South. The line, which of course, is an imaginary 
one, is a term that sailors use to designate the equator, 
the great circle dividing the earth into Northern and 
Southern hemispheres. We begin to reckon latitude from 
the equator both north and south, for example : At pres- 
ent we are in one degree north latitude but if we cross 
the line tomorrow night at this time we may be in one 
degree south latitude. Longitude, however, is reckoned 
east and west from several different points such as Green- 
wich, Paris, and Washington, according to choice. But 
Greenwich is most generally used by merchant ships of 
all nations. Warships, however, sometimes reckon from 
their respective capitals." 

"Do you understand navigation, Tom ?" 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 129 

'•'Oh, yes, Jack, I went through it all at college and I 
have had some practice also. I would like to teach you 
some things about it if the mate would allow me." 

"Why, that would be just the thing, Tom." 

"All right, Jack, but here goes about Neptune. He is 
a rough old fellow. He is recognized to be the king of 
the ocean with headquarters in the vicinity of the equator 
on the Atlantic. He claims the privilege and exercises 
the right to board every ship of whatever nationality that 
passes by his capital, and has on board any sailor or sail- 
ors over seventeen years of age who has never crossed 
the line. The candidates in order to be initiated into the 
mystical mysteries of the deep are subjected to peculiar 
ceremonies which always include shaving, shampooing 
and a bath. Of course, he will not interfere with you. 
There is only one candidate on board to be initiated, who 
is Sam, the ordinary seaman in the mate's watch. He 
has crossed the western ocean several times, but has never 
been south of the equator. You need not fear that any 
one will get hurt. The candidates are always willing to 
be taken through all of the ceremonies in order to be let 
into the mysterious secrets of old Neptune's dominion." 

"There goes two bells, Tom, I must go and turn in 
now. I thank you for what you have told me, Good- 
night." 

"I am always glad to meet you. Jack." 

As I went aft I met the second mate. He was walk- 
ing fore and aft between the main rigging and quarter 
deck." 

"That's right. Jack, you're on time, I see. Do you 
see that squall making up there on the weather quarter? 
We are making five knots now, and perhaps old Neptune 



130 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

will board the 'Two Sisters' tomorrow afternoon all 
right. But he will not notice you only to make a record 
of your presence." 

"I am very glad of that, sir, but how shall I ever know 
the mysterious secrets?" 

"Well, if you keep your eyes and ears open tomorrow 
you may get some inkling of them, or, perhaps the old 
fellow will reveal them to you in a dream sometime. You 
are not absolutely required to know them however until 
you are seventeen years of age, so good night, my lad." 

As I meditated upon the mystical secrets of the deep, 
deep sea, and what it all could mean, I was soon in dream- 
land. I was awakened a few moments after five bells. 
The squall had overtaken us. I heard Mr. Fletcher give 
the order, "Clew up main skysail, stand by the royal hal- 
yards," and I realized that we were speeding on our way. 

The next morning was bright and clear, wind fair, 
making four knots. We had caught plenty of water since 
we had been in the doldrums so that we could use all 
that we needed to wash clothing, etc. As I was working 
in the after cabin I told Mrs. Benjamin what the second 
mate and Tom had said about Neptune. Mrs. Benjamin 
simply remarked : 

"They did not tell you all, Jack." Of course that fact 
aroused my curiosity more than ever. 

At noon I heard the captain tell Mrs. Benjamin that 
we were in tAvelve minutes north latitude, and 26 degrees 
27 minutes west longitude making five knots. After 
dinner had been cleared away and I had gotten through 
with all my afternoon's work, it was four bells. As I 
was getting very anxious I thought I would go forward 
and talk over the situation with the cook. All hands 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 131 

knew that we were very near to crossing the hne, the wind 
was now very light. We were saihng at the rate of three 
knots. 

''Ee, Jack, d'e ol' king Neptun' is comin' mighty soon 
now quick. 

"Who, what, where, cook," I exclaimed in one breath. 

"Oh, sumtimes on de starboard side, and sumtimes on 
the port, sumtimes over de bow." 

At this time the second mate called out, "Keep a good 
look out ahead for the King of the ocean." 

"He's comin' ! He's comin' ! Jack, run, run tells de 
missis !" I ran aft as fast as I could leg it. 

"He is coming ! ma'am, he is coming !" and then turned 
and ran on deck again as quickly as possible followed by 
Airs. Benjamin. 

All hands appeared to be waiting with great expecta- 
tion. As I reached the forward end of the poop deck, I 
heard a shout that seemed to be a little in the distance : 

"Ship ahov, ship ah-o-y." The captain answered, 
Halloo, Hallo-0-0." 

"What ship is that? From whence came you ? Where 
are you bound?" 

The captain replied : "The barque, 'Two Sisters,' forty 
days out from New York, bound to Shanghai, China, all 
well on board." 

In a few moments after this, I heard some one say, 
"Here he comes." I looked forward, and sure enough 
there he was just making his appearance over the weather 
bow. The upper part of his body looked like a man, his 
legs, however, were short, the feet very long and flat, his 
face and hands appeared to be covered with scales, his hair 



132 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/'' 

and beard were long and shaggy, and looked like some kind 
of a sea-weed. He was decorated from head to feet with 
sea grass of different kinds and colors. As he shook him- 
self there appeared to be several pilot fish, such as sharks 
sometimes carry in their mouths, fall off of him into the 
sea. Then something which seemed to be a young sea 
serpent which was wrapped about him unwound itself 
and slipped over the bow. He looked, indeed, as though 
he had come up from the very depths of his subterranean 
capitol. 

Captain Benjamin saluted him as follows : "Welcome ! 
your Royal Highness, on board the 'Two Sisters.' I ex- 
tend to your majesty the liberty of the ship. We all bow, 
sir, in submission to your commands." 

His royal highness replied, in a voice as deep as his 
abode, "I congratulate you, Captain, on the successful 
termination of this part of your voyage, also for the good 
condition of your ship and the health of your crew. Al- 
low me, sir, to pay my respects to her excellency, your most 
worthy and beautiful queen." Mrs. Benjamin acknowl- 
edged the compliment with a very graceful bow and said : 

"My respects to his Royal Highness and to her ex- 
cellency. Queen Neptune." 

After the salutations were over, two of the crew were 
detailed to assist the old fellow as he could not walk on 
our decks unaided. My friend Tom was appointed mas- 
ter of ceremonies. 

Everything being now ready for the initiation of the 
candidate. King Neptune gave his first order : 

"Bring forth the Candidates." 

Sam was blindfolded and led out of the forecastle and 
seated on the heel of a spare topmast on the lee side of 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 133 



the main deck. Then the captain ordered me to go for- 
ward and be presented to the king. I hesitated and looked 
at Mrs. Benjamin thinking that perhaps she might have 
the order countermanded, but she had a rule that she 
always strictly adhered to, which was not to interfere 
with the captain's or officer's orders. The second mate, 
however, understanding the whole situation, said : "Go 
ahead. Jack, you needn't be afraid, Tom will look out 
for you." The encouraging words of Mr. Fletcher and 
the confidence which I had in Tom, who I knew was mas- 
ter of ceremonies, inspired me and I became as bold as 
any sailor boy needed to be. I went and took up a posi- 
tion alongside of Sam. Tom, then came forth and pre- 
sented us, saying: 

"Your royal highness, allow me to present to you the 
candidates, Samuel Johnson, ordinary seaman, Jack 
Smith, cabin boy." As I heard my name mentioned in 
connection with Sam's as one of the candidates I began at 
once to get shaky, but a look from Tom assured me that 
everything was all right. 

King Neptune turned his attention first to me and said, 
"Jack Smith, cabin boy, my lad, because of your extreme 
youth you are excused from further ceremonies. I record 
your name, from henceforth so long as you continue to 
cross the waves, you are my subject. We shall know each 
other better in the future. Farewell." 

I then bowed myself out of his presence and went aft 
on the poop deck. Now, that I knew my part of the pro- 
gram was over I felt myself to be as brave as a lion, but 
alas, for poor Sam. In order to know the secrets he must 
submit himself to all of the deep sea ritual. Old Neptune 
stood over him and said : 



134 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/"" 

"Samuel Johnson, do you here, and now, in the pres- 
ence of all these witnesses, solemnly swear by all that is 
good from the main truck to the bottom of the ocean to 
submit yourself to the laws of my kingdom and cheer- 
fully be governed by my will as long as you continue to 
sail over my domain?" 

Sam answered, "I do so solemnly swear, so help me 
King Neptune." 

"Master of ceremonies, proceed with the initiation," 
said the king. 

Tom then stepped forward with a mixture of tar, 
grease and soap, and lathered the candidate's face. Nep- 
tune then whispered in Sam's ear one of the mystical 
secrets. At the same time he handed Tom what looked 
like a piece of an iron hoop. Then the shaving process 
began in earnest, which must have been a very unpleas- 
ant experience for Sam. However, the secret which he 
had already received, seemed to inspire him with the nec- 
essary courage. After that, his head was washed with 
soap and water and vigorously rubbed. Then several 
buckets of water were poured over him which would have 
been refreshing if they had been applied at will, as the 
afternoon was very warm. After this more secrets were 
imparted to the candidate by his Royal Highness. He was 
then led up on the poop deck to a position just abaft the 
lee gangway. A single pulley had been previously at- 
tached to the main yard arm, the hauling part was led 
through a snatch block and down on the main deck. A 
running bowline was made of the end of the standing 
part and slipped over Sam's head and under his arms. 
"Are they going to hang him ?". I said to myself as I stood 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 135 

looking on with my eyes, ears and mouth wide open. 
Old Neptune then said : 

"In order that you, Samuel Johnson, may be more fully 
instructed in the mysteries of the deep sea and better 
qualified to become one of my loyal subjects, it is nec- 
essary for you to enter into the court of my palace and be 
introduced to the prime minister, who will further en- 
lighten you and decorate you with the seal of my king- 
dom." 

He was then hoisted up gently until he hung perpen- 
dicularly clear of the ship's side then, instead of going up 
as 1 had supposed, the order was given, "let go," and he 
plunged down feet first into the sea. 

"Oh, my," ejaculated Mrs. Benjamin. I would have 
expressed myself in very much stronger terms if I had 
only dared. 

By the amount of. rope that ran out it was evident that 
Sam went down deep enough to meet old Neptune's 
prime minister, all right, or any other of his emissaries, 
who might have been in waiting to receive him. The 
master of ceremonies stood with watch in hand. After 
twenty seconds, he ordered "Up, away," and Sam was 
hoisted up even with the rail. Then the order was given, 
"let go," and down he went again. This part of the 
ritual was repeated three times after which he was hoisted 
up on deck nearly exhausted. He was then led forward 
to a position in front of his Royal Highness, who com- 
manded the bandage to be taken off his eyes and ad- 
dressed him as follows : 

"Samuel Johnson, I now extend to you the right hand 
of fellowship; from henceforth you are entitled to all 
the rights and privileges accorded to my most favored 



136 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

subjects, and when your soul takes its flight above, and 
the body is consigned to my domain, until time shall be 
no more, then I will deliver it up to the King of Heaven. 
To these promises I do hereby fix my hand and seal this 
day, according to the reckoning of mortal man, on the 
second day of November, 1858, Au Revoir." 

His Royal Highness was then assisted to the topgal- 
lantforecastledeck. He then said : 

"Hark ! hark ! ye finite beings. To the captain and his 
queen and to all the ship's company, I grant you a speedy 
and safe arrival at your port of destination. Fare ye 
well." After which he slipped over the bow from whence 
he came and we saw him no more. Captain Benjamin 
then resumed his command and said: 

"We are now south of the equator." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 137 



Chapter IX. 

JFcom tt\t equator to tfie Cape ot C5oo\i l^ope 

As soon as the captain had resumed his command 
things relaxed into their normal conditions. While I 
was preparing the supper table, Mrs. Benjamin and I 
talked over the events of the day. 

"I am very glad, ma'am, that I was not old enough to 
be let into the mystical secrets. I think I had rather go 
without them than to go through Sam's experience in 
order to have them. But Mr. Fletcher said that they 
might be revealed to me in a dream some time. 

"I agree with you. Jack, that such a revelation would 
be much more agreeable. Old Neptune is very original 
and quite severe, to say the least. After you get through 
your work this evening you may take Sam a can of fruit 
and a bottle of pulverized milk for his coffee. All of 
the ship's company had some diversion this afternoon at 
his expense. Mr. Stover has the last dog watch below 
(from six to eight), so he will not trouble you." 

I was glad of the opportunity to get forward again 
and have a talk with Tom as I wished to ask him some 
questions. 

"Sam, here are some knickknacks which Mrs. Benja- 
min sent you." 

"Hello, Jack, you may tell the mistress for me I 
wouldn't mind being dipped myself for a bottle of that 
milk," said one of his messmates. "I will take a can of 
fruit," ejaculated another. 



138 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"Oh, the bath was all right," said Sam, "but that 
shaving racket, there wasn't anything delicate about that." 

I found Tom reading, by moonlight, the book which 
I had brought him. "Good evening, Jack. Glad to see 
you. I have just finished reading the temperance book, 
and it is very interesting. I know something about the 
awful fruits of intemperance and I am determined in the 
future to know more and more about the fruits of right- 
eousness." 

"I tell you the truth, I have never found any more 
righteousness among the land sharks of New York City 
than I did in heathen China. Indeed, the Chinese them- 
selves always treated me all right. No doubt, the reason 
why I did not find more righteousness in New York was 
because I never sought for it. I did not walk in the right 
paths myself." 

"Tom, you were master of ceremonies this afternoon. 
I want to ask you some questions about old Neptune. Say, 
it isn't real, is it?" 

"Why, Jack, I am surprised to have you ask me such 
a question as that. Didn't you see all that was going on ? 
Besides, you had better ask Sam. I guess he thought it 
was real enough." 

"Yes, Tom, but about the secrets, what are the mystical 
secrets ?" 

"I didn't have anything to do with the secrets which 
Sam received. Didn't you notice, Jack, that old Neptune 
whispered into his ear several times. He then imparted 
the secrets to him. I cannot tell you what they were. All 
sailors who have crossed the line have their own especial 
secrets. But there goes eight bells. Jack, take this book 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 139 

and change it for me, and please tell the mistress that I 
have been much profited by it." 

"All right, Tom, good night." 

We were now on the port tack in the southeast trade 
winds, which were very light. As I was going below, 
the man at the wheel was relieved and I heard the order 
given, "Keep her full and by." 

It was noon of the fifth day after we had crossed the 
equator, when I again overheard the captain and first 
mate talking about the ship's position. 

"Mr, Stover," the captain remarked, "I think we ought 
to make land this afternoon if the wind does not die out 
altogether. I should say, about four bells." 

"I was in hopes, sir," replied Mr. Stover, "that the 
trades would favor us a little so that we might weather 
the cape." 

"It does not look very much like it at present," an- 
swered the captain. "I think that we will have to do a 
little traverse sailing before we get to the southward of 
it. However, if the wind does not favor we will keep 
on the port tack until we make some port of South Amer- 
ica." The last sentence of the captain's remarks, "until 
we make some port of South America," attracted my 
attention more than any other. 

"]Vfy," I thought, "we are going to see land, and that 
within two hours," and I was glad. It did not make any 
difference to me just then whether the land that we were 
about to make w^as north of the cape or south of it. We 
were forty-five days out, and I did so long to have the 
pleasure of looking upon any part of the earth's surface. 
At ten minutes before two, the captain said to the second 
mate : 



140 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

"Get the lead out; I think by the looks of the water 
that we are on soundings." The lead and line were made 
ready and taken forward, outside of everything, to the 
weather-cat-head. The ship was then let up into the 
wind. Everything was ready. The man, who had the 
lead, threw it as far forward as possible and at the same 
time called out, "W-a-t-c-h, oh, w-a-t-c-h." The lead 
found the bottom all right after seventy-five fathoms of 
line had run out and brought up some particles of course 
white sand. A man was sent aloft to look for land. 

After I had finished my work, I gave Mrs. Benjamin 
the book which Tom had read and told her what he had 
said about it. I also gave her other books to be exchanged 
for the men. 

"Jack, would you like to see some land to-day?" 

"There is a man aloft looking for it, and we are on 
soundings, seventy-five fathoms, and the bottom is white 
sand." 

"You seem to know all about it. That's right; keep 
your eyes and ears open and ask questions, it is a very 
good way to learn about things." 

"I am afraid to ask Mr. Stover about anything, ma'am, 
he is so cross most all of the time." 

"Perhaps, Jack, if you would place more confidence in 
Mr. Stover and ask him some questions about things it 
might please him ; suppose you try it awhile and then tell 
me what the results are." I promised to do this. 

As I was going on deck I met Mr. Stover. "How far 
is it, sir, to the cape from the land which we expect to 
make." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 141 

"What's that," he inquired. I repeated my question. 
"Do you expect to navigate the ship?" he said. "Haven't 
you anything to do in the cabin?" 

"I have just finished my afternoon's work, sir, in the 
cabin." 

"Well," he continued, "if I had you in my watch I 
would' find something for you to do besides running about 
deck and asking questions." "My first attempt in asking 
Mr. Stover for information has not been successful," I 
thought, as I passed on to the galley to have a talk with 
the cook. 

"Ee, Jack, ye ask'd de mate 'bout de land, he tell you?" 

"No, Cook, he did not tell me anything." 

"Ye gets on de hands and knees ; den he tells ye. De 
missis hears him." I had not noticed before that Mrs. 
Benjamin came on deck close behind me; I was glad, 
however, that she had heard Mr. Stover's answer to my 
question, for hearing with her own ears and seeing with 
her own eyes was the very best kind of proof, and it 
was not necessary that I should tell her how I succeeded 
as she had requested me to do. 

"Jack, likes enuff we gits sum fishes when we gits ter 
land. Him not far off. Ye sees de water gittin de 
white blue — " 

"Land — ho!" came from the foreroyal-yard. 

"Where away," shouted the captain. 

"Two points on the weather bow, sir." 

"Mr. Stover, we are in the bight sure enough," said 
the captain. "However, we will stand well in shore be- 
fore we tack ship. The probabilities are that the local 
currents will favor us a little if we keep close in on the 
coast." 



142 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"There is nothing in our way," repHed the mate, "and 
perhaps we wiH get a good breeze off the land, tonight." 

"Halloo ! There it is, old Cape St. Rogue," said the 
captain, "just in range of the forward swifter. Well, 
old fellow, you are in the same position as you were 
when I saw you last, but I am not. I was well to the 
windward of you. Forty-five days out from New York. 
Nothing to brag on, Mr. Stover, but we are all safe and 
sound, and haven't carried away a ropeyarn." "Forty- 
five days," he reiterated, "well, I have done worse than 
that." 

"So have I," answered the mate. "If it had not been 
for that hurricane I reckon we would have been skipping 
along to the windward now, but I think we will get a 
slant tonight and weather the old fellow before tomorrow 
afternoon at this time." 

At eig-ht bells P. M'. we M^ere standing in shore. A 
long line of sand beach could be clearly seen stretching 
far away to the north and south of us with green hills 
for a background, and a dark outline of lofty mountains 
in the distance. I thought of the many things concern- 
ing this vast continent, of its majestic mountain ranges, 
its deep unexplored valleys, its mighty rivers, of its vast 
wealth and resources, of its connection with the other 
parts of the world, which shall never cease so long as 
the mighty oceans on either side shall continue to roll 
and of the great unknown to the south of it. 

"Boat ahead," came from the foretopgallant fore- 
castledeck. "Catamaran, sir," said the second mate as 
the captain came on deck. 

"All right, Mr. Fletcher, if we stand in close enough 
we may get some fish from some of those fellows." He 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 143 



then ordered the lead to be thrown again. We got 
soundings at twenty-five fathoms. 

"It shoals up here very gradually," said the captain, 
"but we had better be watchful, get out the hand lead, 
Mr. Fletcher, and have it thrown every ten minutes and 
when we get into ten fathoms we will tack ship." At 
four bells, evening, catamarans could be seen in all di* 
rections, some were quite near us ; strange looking boats 
they were to me, two logs, six feet apart, securely fas- 
tened together, decked over in places and cat rigged. 

We were now getting close in shore. A man was 
stationed in the weather main chains throwing the lead 
continuously and calling out the depths of the water, or 
rather singing it out as, "by the mark e-1-e-v-e-n, by the 
mark e-1-e-v-e-n, a quarter less eleven, and half ten, a 
quarter less ten." At this moment the captain shouted, 
"All hands on deck, tack ship." As we had not done 
much tacking ship in the day time, I took particular no- 
tice of everything that was done. In the first place the 
tacks and sheets were taken out of their beckets, the main- 
sail was then clewed up. By this time all hands were on 
deck and every man at his post as follows; the second 
mate and two men forward, the carpenter, who was al- 
ways called "Chips," at the fore-sheet. I was stationed 
at the maintopmaststaysail sheet. The first mate by 
the lee main braces, the rest of the crew by the weather 
main braces, and the captain on the quarter deck. 

Everything was now ready. The captain then shouted, 
"Hard-a-lee." At this moment (we were on the port 
tack) the wheel was put hard to starboard, all of the 
head sheets were let go. As the ship came around and 
the wind bore on the starboard bow, the order was gi-\'-en, 



144 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters/' 

"Maintopsail haul." All of the main yards then came 
around with a rush and were braced up sharp with the 
port braces. The men then ran to the forebraces, the 
ship was now making stern-way and the following orders 
were given, "Hard-a-port, the wheel;" "fore-bowline, 
let go and haul." The wind was now on the starboard 
beam and it required some hard pulling to get the fore- 
yards around until they were about square. Then the 
wind filled the sails and they were easily handled and 
braced up sharp on the starboard tack. In the mean- 
time all of the head sails had been trimmed by the wind, 
the weather, fore and main braces were then taughtened 
up. The next order given was, ''Board the main tack." 
The mainsail was then set, the wheel was relieved and 
the watch went below; after which the tacks and sheets 
were placed in their beckets (that is, strapped to the 
sheer poles in order to keep them from dangling and chaf- 
ing), and the braces were coiled up. The ship was now 
on the starboard tack standing off shore. While the 
ship was in stays, three men, two white and one Indian, 
on a catamaran took advantage of their opportunity and 
came along-side. I threw them a rope which they caught 
all right, and before the ship had gathered much head- 
way the captain had struck a bargain with them for a lot 
of fresh fish; also to forward some letters which Mrs. 
Benjamin had hastily written. The cook was the only 
man on board who had taken in the situation and had 
a letter already prepared. They could not give us any 
news whatever of the outside world, had not seen sail 
bound south within ten days. They were very sure we 
would get a land breeze after sundown. We then bade 
each other "Good-bye" and they cast off from us and made 
for the shore. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 145 

The sunset was very, very beautiful, the water all 
around about "w^as a light transparent blue; the white 
sandy beach, a few miles in the distance, sparkled like 
diamonds; the sloping hill-sides appeared to be covered 
with a mantle filled with emerald; the dark outline of 
the mountain, far away, seemed to have turned into a 
belt of gold studded with all manner of precious jewels. 
As we stood off shore it appeared to me as though we 
were leaving all of the bright, the beautiful and the good 
behind us, and that we were sailing on into the dark, 
dark unknown. 

At eight bells, evening, the captain, in talking over 
the situation with Mr. Stover, said: "According to the 
report of the natives, the 'Grape-shot' could not have 
passed the cape except well out to windward." 

"I can't see how that she could be so much farther to 
windward than we are, sir," replied the mate. "I am 
sure that we have taken advantage of every slant we 
have had. However, I think we will have a strong land 
breeze tonight." 

"Yes," answered the captain, "it is favoring us already, 
we are heading well up along the shore. Throw the lead 
occasionally and when you get off into twenty-five or 
thirty fathoms we will tack ship and stand in shore again. 
If I am not on deck at eight bells give me a call." 

"A5^e, aye, sir," replied the mate. 

I was sitting on the booby hatch during the above con- 
versation and took in all that I could hear. Mr. Stover 
came to me and said in a very pleasant tone of voice, 
"what do you think of this part of the world?" 

"The sunset was very beautiful, sir," I answered. "I 
am glad that we got a lot of fish and that Mrs. Benjamin 



146 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/^ 

had a chance to send some letters home, but I don't think 
that I would like to live in South America." 

"Neither would I, Jack. There is so much ignorance 
and superstition in these countries, and there are not any 
countries like the United States and old England for me. 
How far does Mrs. Benjamin live from your home, 
Jack?" 

"Her father's house, sir, is about two miles west from 
where I live." 

"Oh. that's all, is it? If Mrs. Benjamin's letters get 
through all right, your mother will hear all about you." 
"I hope so, sir," I answered. 

"Mrs. Benjamin," he continued, "is a very fine woman, 
she does not meddle with everybody's business as some 
captain's wives do. Jack, my mother has been gone forty 
years. She died when I was fifteen, and I have been 
knocking about the world ever since. I can remember 
her last word's to me as though they had just been spoken. 
Of course, I have had some friends since that time, but 
none like her. .Someone has said, 'Human friendship 
counts for much in this life, but after all the sharpest 
corners are to be turned alone.' The latter part of that 
quotation was especially true in my case after my mother 
had gone." 

"But, sir, we read in the Bible, 'Hope thou in God, 
Oh, my soul,' " I ventured to suggest. 

"Well, Jack, you are right about that, that is just what 
I ought to do, but it is time you turned in now. Good- 
night." 

"Good-night, sir," I answered. As I went below, he 
called out to the man at the wheel — 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 147 

"HoAv do you head?" 

"Southwest by south, sir." 

"Keep her a good full." 

"Aye, aye, sir." He then ordered the lead to be 
thrown. 

How strange, I thought, that this man so rough and 
cross, much of the time, has a tender place in his heart. 
As I laid down to rest that night I mused, "how can I, 
a cabin boy, help this man, not by resenting his cross and 
rough actions, but by meeting them in the spirit of love 
and meekness. If I could only talk with him as I do with 
Tom." 

"We are now forty-six days out. Jack," said Wxs. Ben- 
jamin, as I was preparing the supper table next evening. 

"But we are well around the cape, ma'am," I answered. 

"Yes, Jack, I am glad of that, for the captain says 
that we will have a leading breeze now until we pass 
Pernambuco, after which the wind will be more free. He 
thinks that we will be off that port by ten A. M. to- 
morrow. Does Tom like his new book?" 

"I have not talked with him since he received it, ma'am, 
but I am quite sure that he will appreciate it." 

"Jack, the cook was real bright yesterday to have a 
letter all ready when the catamaran came alongside. I 
began to write when I saw there were several nearby. 
I thought perhaps that one of them might board us. It 
was easy for me, as I did not have anything else to do, but 
the rest of you were very busy at that time tacking ship. 
I wrote about you, Jack, and told my folks to tell your 
mother that you were well and have become very pro- 
ficient in your duties and would soon be promoted." 



148 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"They will all be very glad at home to hear from us 
all, ma'am, and I thank you, but I am very sorry that I 
did not write just a few words." 

"I overheard Mr. Stover's answer to your question the 
other day, but do not get discouraged, Jack, try it again, 
some time." "Why, ma'am, we had a very pleasant talk 
with each other last evening, Mr. Stover and I." 

"I am very glad, Jack," Mrs. Benjamin remarked, 
"that Mr. Stover has made a confidant of you. You just 
keep on steering straight for his heart and it may be that 
you will gain his good will." 

We passed close by the harbor of Perambuco in lati- 
tude 8 degrees 23 minutes south. We did not see any- 
thing of the "Grape-shot," although we could see the spars 
of the shipping lying at anchor. After getting to the 
southward of this port the trades favored us and we 
trimmed in our weather braces a little and set the lower- 
topmast, and topgallantstuddingsails, fore and main. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "we have clear sailing 
now, we will keep on the port tack until the trades die- 
out, or rather at their place of beginning, which will 
probably be in about thirty-seven degrees, which, of 
course, means between seventeen and eighteen hundred 
miles." 

"Ee, Jack, did de like de fishes de oder day?" 

"Yes, Cook, everyone said that they were fine. Did 
the men have any?" 

"Jack, all had 'em. Does ye like de porpus. Jack?" 
"I never ate a piece of any." 

"We ketch em some day. Jack, ye and de mate gets 
chummy, ee?" 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 149 

"The mate is good, sometimes," I answered. But the 
cook reiterated what he had said once before, "I no hke 
'im." 

"But, Cook, I never heard him say that he did not Hke 
you. Did he ever teU you so?" 

"Ney, Jack, but he never tells me dat he does." 

"Well, cook, he never said that he liked me, but some- 
times I think he does." 

"Jack, ye sees Tom?" 

"No, I have not talked with him for several days, but 
I am going to see him now." 

"He no look well. Jack, he get 'im sick soon." 

"I hope not. Cook, he is a good man." 

"Ee, Jack, Tom he big fellow." It was now one bell 
(eight-thirty P. M.) I found Tom on the lookout. 

"Good evening," I said. 

"Hello, Jack, fine breeze this. We are making about 
ten knots. If we continue this rate of speed, we will 
soon run up our latitude." 

"What do you mean, Tom, by running up our lati- 
tude?" 

"To run up our latitude. Jack, means to get as far 
south as we need to go." 

"Tom, I heard the captain say that we had clear sail- 
ing now, and that we would keep on this tack until we 
run out of the southeast trades." 

"We will pass by several islands. Jack, but probably 
will not sight any of them. After we get down to 36 
degrees or 37 degrees south, we will get some westerly 
winds, and then we will cross the South Atlantic, heading 



150 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

for the Cape of Good Hope, which is in latitude about 35 
degrees 22 minutes south, and longitude 18 degrees 25 
minutes east. Light ahead/' he shouted. 

"Where away," answered the second mate. 

"One point on the lee tow, sir," answered Tom. 

The stranger proved to be a steamer bound north. 
We did not pass within hailing distance of each other. 
We showed a torch light, which they answered. 

"Tom, I did not see that steamer's light, when you 
shouted." 

"Well, Jack, you are here visiting, as it were, but I am 
here to keep a good lookout ahead." 

"How do you like your new book, Tom ?" 

"It is a very good book. Jack. Did you pick it out 
for me, or the mistress?" 

"I told Mrs. Benjamin, Tom, what you said about the 
other book, that it had helped you very much and so she 
chose this one on prayer, faith and obedience. Tom, how 
very beautiful the stars are, they all look brighter than 
they do at home." 

"Yes, Jack, but these are not the same stars that you 
have always seen. You know the star in these latitudes 
are much more brilliant than those in the North. There 
is the Southern Cross, you see, they are the most beauti- 
ful cluster of stars in all the heavens." 

"They are not as bright as the comet was, Tom. th^at 
we lost sight of when we crossed the line." 

"No, Jack, but the comet, the greatest one on record 
that we have been familiar with in the north latitudes, 
is not a planet, but a heavenly body with a trail of lumi- 
nous matter. It appeared to be independent of all the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 151 

rest of the universe and had a commission to roam about 
in space. We will probably never see the same comet 
again, but the Southern Cross will be seen in all its glory 
until time shall be no more, and it may shine on and on, 
for aught I know. Jack, after mortal man has ceased to 
measure time." 

"Well, Tom, I don't know what the great hereafter 
will be, but I have determined in my heart to have a 
share in the best of it." 

'T will also strive with you. Jack, to enter in." 

"Don't you think the Seamen's Friend Society is do- 
ing a great work in placing small libraries on board of 
ships?" 

"Yes, Jack, but in some ships the men never get sight 
of one of the books. There are, however, a great many 
who do, and they are much benefited. How are you and 
the mate getting on, Jack, these days ?" 

"He is not cross all the time, Tom. We had a nice 
talk with each other the night that we were off Cape St. 
Rogue. He has been very pleasant most of the time 
since." 

"Mr. Stover is a genuine, typical old English sailor, 
Jack, and, of course, must do a certain amount of growl- 
ing, come w'hat may. But he is a capable officer and 
that's the fact." 

"Do the men like to read the library books as well as 
you do, Tom?" 

"Not quite as well as I, perhaps, Jack, yet I think that 
they enjoy them. Some of them, however, have six 
penny or dime novels, which are full of all manner of 
thrilling adventures and hairbreadth escapes that never 



152 Voyage of ""'The Two Sisters/'' 

did and never could have happened. There is some fas- 
cination about them, but they do not improve the mind 
or heart of those who read them. It is useless for me to 
say anything to them about God or the Bible. 'Wait, 
Tom,' they say, 'until you have been on shore a week and 
then come and talk with us, anyone can be good a thou- 
sand miles at sea.' They know a tree by its fruit. Jack, 
as well as other people." 

"The cook told me, Tom, that you did not look as 
though you were well, and I am of the same opinion. Do 
you feel sick?" 

"Well, Jack, I am not feeling as strong as two men 
and a boy at present, but I hope to be better soon, as we 
are now out of the tropics." 

"Tom, there is a chest aft, full of medicine of all 
kinds, also a doctor book. If you want an}i;hing just let 
me know and I will ask Mrs. Benjamin about it." 

"All right, Jack, my boy, I will; but there goes foar 
bells so good-bye for this time." 

"We have had a nice talk together, Tom, take good 
care of yourself. So long." As I went aft, the lookout 
and the man at the wheel were relieved and the log 
thrown. 

"You're keeping late hours tonight," said the second 
mate. 

"But I will be ready to turn out, sir, when you L^all 
me in the morning." 

"That's right, my lad." 
"How fast are we sailing?" I inquired. 
"We are doing fine, J^ck, doing fine. Making ten 
knots. We will have to send up our preventer 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 153 

braces," he said as he went into the cabin to write up 
the log slate. A preventer brace is a single rope 
with an eye splice slipped over the end of the weather 
yard arms, leading parallel with the braces and 
taughtened up in order to take a part of the strain. 

"Twelve o'clock," said Captain Benjamin." 

"That's right," replied the mate," as he took out 
his pencil and began to reckon up the latitude. 

"Well, Mr. Stover, where are we?" asked the cap- 
tain. 

"Thirty-five degrees 20 minutes, sir," answered 
the mate. "The Cape of Good Hope is nearly due 
east of us. We are within two miles of being on 
the same parallel." 

"That agrees with my reckoning," replied the cap- 
tain, "we have been doing very well the last week, 
but the trades are getting very light, and if they head 
us off any, so that we can not carry our studdingsails, 
we will tack ship." 

"I think, probably," said Mr. Stover, "that we 
will run into some westerly winds by to-morrow or 
the next day after." 

"Well," answered the captain, "we will continue 
on our present course until we have a change of 
wind from some direction." 

"There is a school of porpoises under the bow, 
sir," said the second mate, "suppose that we try for 
one of them ?" 

"All right," replied the captain, "a porpoise steak 
would taste good." The harpoon was then made ready. 



154 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/-* 

A single block was taken out to the head of the bow- 
sprit and secured under the foretopmaststay on the 
lee side. A small rope was roved through the block 
and made fast to the harpoon. The hauling part 
was led in onto the forecastledeck. The second 
mate then took up a position alongside of the martin- 
gale, standing on the martingale backstays. A fair 
breeze was blowing and we were making about eight 
knots. 

It was a fine sight to watch the school of big fish 
playing under our bow. As soon as the opportunity 
oiTered itself, the second mate threw the harpoon. 
It struck a large fellow just back of its head. The 
men on the forecastledeck were on the lookout. 
They instantly hauled it up clear of the water. A 
running bowline was then slipped over its head and, as 
the flukes are very large, the bowline could not slip 
off. Then the harpoon rope was gradually slacked 
away and the porpoise was hauled in over the bow, 
tail first, and from thence down into the lee scuppers. 

We had taken dolphins, during the voyage, but I 
had never seen a large fish caught before. There 
was some excitement connected with it and it af- 
forded a little diversion for all hands. After it was 
dressed, the flesh had the appearance of fresh beef. 
They said that it probably weighed about two hun- 
dred pounds. We had plenty of fresh fish again for 
some time. 

While we were in the tropics, all of our empty 
tanks and casks had been refilled with rain water; 
all of the standing-rigging was set up and tarred 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 155 

down, ratlines squared, chafing gear readjusted, the 
ironwork scraped and painted, and the bright wood 
scraped and varnished, or oiled. The ship had also 
been painted, inside and out, down to the copper, 
including the lower masts, yards and bowsprit ; in 
fact the ship had had a general overhauling from 
the main truck to the waterline. The crew were 
now engaged in repairing the spare sails. 

"Jack, would you like to be promoted?" said the 
steward. "Of course, I will miss you in the cabin, 
but you can serve the coffee mornings and wait on 
Mrs. Benjamin as you have been doing and some- 
times you may be detailed to help me out a little." 

"I would like it very much, sir; Mrs. Benjamin 
told me that I might be promoted soon." 

"Captain," said Mrs. Benjamin, "the barometer is 
faUing." 

"Thank you, Mrs. Benjamin, but I have noticed it," 
replied the captain. "There is a heavy squall coming 
up from the westward, the wind will be fair, and we 
hope to make good use of it. We will have to be 
very cautious, however, as no one can tell just how 
hard it will blow in a squall." As he went on deck, 
he ordered me to be sure and have the skylights and 
all of the dead-lights closed before it struck us. "Aye, 
aye, sir," I answered. 

It was eight bells (noon). The captain and Mr. 
Stover just succeeded in getting observations before 
the sun was shut in by the approaching squall. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "we will run up our 
longitude on the 38th parallel. We may however, 



156 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

just before we get into the vicinity of the Cape of 
Good Hope haul up to the northward and get a 
ghmpse of Table mountain, but it will depend alto- 
gether upon how the wind treats us in that locality." 
"We will get a good send-off, sir," said Mr. Stover, 
"at the very beginning of this part of our voyage." 
The ship was headed due east, which brought the 
wind on our starboard quarter. The skysailroyals 
and upper staysails were taken in and furled. 

The squall had now overtaken us and it was blow- 
ing heavy. "Stand by the topgallant-halyards, fore 
and aft," shouted the second mate. I was ordered 
to stand by the mizzentopmast-halyards. Still the 
wind increased. 

"What do you think, sir," said Mr. Stover to the 
captain, "it looks ugly." 

"Yes," replied Captain Benjamin, "I am a little 
afraid of our old topsails. We have better ones and 
I wish they were aloft now." 

"Well, sir," answered the mate, "if the 'Two Sis- 
ters' ever made fourteen knots she is making them 
now, but we had better be careful." 

"That's good advice," said the captain. "Take in 
the flying-jib, clew up the mizzentopsail; lower away, 
Jack." After these sails were tied up, the fore and 
maintopgallantsails were lowered away. They were 
not clewed up but were hoisted and lowered from 
time to time, according as the wind decreased or in- 
creased. At four bells (evening) the wind had 
veered. a little to the south and had settled down 
into a strong but steady breeze. All of the canvas 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 157 

that the "Two Sisters" could spread was set, includ- 
ing lowertopmast, and topgallantstuddingsails fore 
and aft. Three days after the squall, the captain said 
to Mr. Stover and the second mate, in my hearing: 

"I think that Jack had better be promoted. The 
steward can get along without him, and Mrs. Benja- 
min, who really has charge of the boy, thinks that 
it will be to his advantage. Of course, she will have 
the privilege of calling on him whenever she needs 
his services. He had better not stand watch and 
watch for the present, but he will be handy on deck 
through the day, holding turn, coiling ropes, holding 
the glass (minute glass), and for many other things." 
The captain then asked me which I had rather be, a 
sailor boy or a cabin boy. 

"A sailor boy, of course," said Mrs. Benjamin, who 
was standing near by, unobserved up to that time. 

"I think I would like to be promoted, sir," I said 
somewhat embarrassed. 

"All right then, Jack," said Captain Benjamin, 
"your watch on deck will be from six in the morn- 
ing until six at night. You will have all night in, ex- 
cept when all hands are called out to shorten sail or 
tack ship. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "we are likely to 
have a heavy gale at any time in this latitude. I 
think we had better get out our best topsails and 
courses, jib, foretopmast and mizzenstaysail and 
spanker, and have them bent, then we will be ready 
for whatever may come." 



158 Voyage of ''"The Two Sisters/'' 

"All right, sir," said Mr. Stover, "we will haul them 
out and send them aloft this afternoon." 

All hands were on deck from twelve-thirty P. M. 
until five-thirty P. M. Some of the men were en- 
gaged in unbending and sending the old sails down, 
the others were getting the spare ones ready, and 
sending them up. The captain and I were at the 
wheel most all of the afternoon. It was my first ex- 
perience in steering by the compass. I felt myself 
to be a full-grown sailor. As the old sails were per- 
fectly dry, they were stopped up snug and put away, 
subject to a thorough overhauling in the near fu- 
ture in order to be ready for use again when we 
reached the tropics and the Indian ocean. 

Mr. Stover had treated me all right since our little 
conversation, when we were off Cape St. Roque, and 
after I was promoted he taught me how to box the 
compass (to read it), as follows: North, half east, 
north by east, north by east half east, north north- 
east, northeast by north half north, northeast by 
north, northeast, half north, northeast, and so on 
around the circle back to the north ; also to make 
several kinds of knots and hitches, plait sennit, and 
other things. He had also allowed me to practice 
in going aloft, but for some reason unknown to me 
he suddenly became as cross as he ever had been. 
I had borrowed a book, "The Kedge Anchor," from 
Sam, and when he saw me reading it, he seemed to 
be very much displeased. "Come with me," he said, 
"I will give you all the kedge anchor that you want." 
I followed him forward and under the topgallant 
forecastledeck, when he said, pointing to the kedge 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 159 

anchor that was lashed to the heel of the bowsprit 
(I have mentioned this anchor before in my experi- 
ence in milking the goat). "There," he said, "scrape 
that. Get all of the rust off of it and take a piece 
of stiff canvas and rub it smooth." "Aye, aye, sir," 
I answered. I know that it was a "work up job," 
as the sailors would call it, if not it would have been 
unlashed and laid down on deck where I could have 
worked on it to advantage. This was in the after- 
noon. It was the mate's watch on deck. 

The cook knew that I was forward, working at 
something, and so he came around and called on me 
for a few minutes. 

"Ee, Jack," he said, "No good job. Ye reads de 
book and de mate makes ye scrape de anchor, eh? 
He get 'im cross again, Jack." 

"Oh, he will be all right again in a few days. The 
work is all right if I could only get at it all, but 
there is a plenty of it that I can get at." 

"I reads and reads de Bible as ye tells me, Jack, 
but I no likes de mate vera much yit." 

"Who wTote the Bible, Cook, and told us to love 
our neighbor as ourself ?" 

"Oh, de Lord, he makes 'em." 

"Then you had better ask him all about it," I. said. 

"Ee, Jack, I prays de Lord, maybe I likes de mate 
more sum time," he said, as he turned away shaking 
his head. 

The next day I finished the work after much 
pounding, scraping and rubbing. I had changed 



i6o Voyage of "^The Two Sisters/'' 

the appearance of the anchor very much and was 
quite pleased with the result. I thought now the 
proper thing for me to do would be to go and re- 
port to Mr. Stover. Consequently, when I found 
him, I said: 

"I have finished scraping the kedge anchor, sir." 

"Finished it, eh? Well, you just go and scrape it 
over again and rub it smooth." 

Now, Mrs. Benjamin overheard him, but he did 
not know it, neither did I, at that time. I did not 
get angry but did feel a little discouraged. "Aye, 
aye, sir," I said, as I turned and went forward. I 
thought, "Well, perhaps I can make it look a little 
better." 

After the second mate's watch had come on deck, 
Tom was set at work just abaft the forecastle deck 
to worm, parcel and serve a piece of rigging. To 
worm a piece of rigging or rope of any kind is to 
fill in the grooves between the strands with some 
marline or spun yarn, to parcel it is to wind it with 
a layer of narrow stripes of thin canvas that has been 
previously tarred and dried. To serve it, is to bind 
it round with smooth spun yarn. In serving a rope, 
an instrument is used called a serving mallet, which 
is like a common mallet with two exceptions. It 
has a groove along the top of it large enough to fit 
the piece of rope that is to be served. There are 
also three or four small grooves around the mallet, 
each side of the handle. The piece of rigging that 
is to be served is stretched out tight, about as high 



A Cabin Boy's Story. i6i 

as a man's waist. After having first wormed, par- 
celed and tarred, the spun yarn or marline is then 
made fast to the piece of rigging, bound around sev- 
eral times by hand, then the mallet is placed on the 
top of it, after which the marline is bound around 
both the rope and mallet several times in the grooves 
forward of the handle and two or three turns up- 
the handle and is held in the hand, which turns the 
mallet. As the mallet is turned the marline is al- 
lowed to slip through the hand and to render around 
the mallet. At every revolution several turns are left 
bound tightl)^ around the rope. The strands of every 
piece of rigging, or rope, are laid together from left 
to right. In serving a rope the mallet must be turned 
from right to left against the lay of the rope. The 
operator working toward himself. The rule is, "worm 
and parcel with the lay, swing around and serve 
away." 

Now, it takes two persons to serve a rope, one to 
handle the mallet and another to pass the ball of 
material around, following the mallet. The second 
mate knowing what I was doing and all about the 
circumstances, came forward and said to me : 

"Jack, come out of that and pass the ball for Tom." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I said. I was very glad to get 
relieved from my useless task. "Perhaps it did need 
scraping, at first," I thought, "but I have finished it 
once." Mr. Fletcher took a look at it, and said : 

"Jack, you have scraped the old anchor good and 
smooth. It should have a coat of paint on it now." 



1 62 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters/^ 

After this he turned his attention to the rest of the 
watch, and Tom and I were left alone. 

Tom, knowing all about the facts, that I had bor- 
rowed the book from Sam and that it seemed to 
displease Mr. Stover, and perhaps thinking that I 
ought to learn or be taught what a sailor boy should 
know by some more practical methods than reading 
from the "Kedge Anchor," said : 

"Jack, I want to tell you something." 

"All right, Tom, I am here to listen, go ahead." 

"Well, Jack, if you were employed on shore and 
your employer ordered you to do a certain piece of 
work, after having finished it, it would be the right 
thing for you to go and report to him, but it is very 
different on board of a ship. Here it is demanded 
of you to come only when you are called and do 
only what you are told. You may not be able to 
do all that you are told, but you are not expected 
to do any more than you are told. Now, the offi- 
cer of the deck is supposed to know just what every 
man in his watch is doing, also when each man gets 
through with what he is doing, so it is not consid- 
ered good seamanship. Jack, for a man when he gets 
through with a piece of work to go aft and report, 
except he has been especially ordered to do so. I 
guess that's what the mate is trying to teach you 
by this object lesson. Now, Jack, when you get 
through passing the ball for me, the proper thing 
for you to do is to go and sit down alongside of 
that anchor until Mr. Stover comes forward and 



A Cabin BoY^s Story. 163 

takes a look at it and if you have scraped it all right, 
he will probably set yoii to work at something else." 

"Well, Tom, I think that I have learned the lesson 
thoroughly, thanks to you for your explanation." 

"We have got to learn. Jack, while we are living, 
and some lessons in life are easy and some are hard. 
I am glad that we can help each other out a little, 
once in a while. I saw you up in the maintop yes- 
terday, Jack ; how do you like going aloft ?" 

"Oh, that's just what I do like, Tom ; I think that 
I will soon get used to it, but I expect to be care- 
ful. There was an Italian boy on board the 'Two 
Sisters' who fell from the mainroyal-yard on the last 
voyage and was killed. He belonged in Genoa. The 
captain thought very much of it. He was several 
years older than I am." 

"There is not much danger of your falling. Jack, 
if you are only careful and don't lose your head. If 
you 'should ever get dizzy, always look up. The 
most difficult thing about it is climbing up the fut- 
tock shrouds in order to get up into the tops, then 
the foot ropes on the lower yards are rather too 
long for you, but those on the skysail and royal-yards 
are the right length." 

"But Tom, will I be expected to go out on the 
lower yards?" 

"No, Jack, the mainskysail will probably be under 
your especial care for a while, then the royals and 
so on down. Well, Jack, we have been up aloft long- 
enough for the present, now suppose I give you a 
lesson in serving a rope. You have been watching me 



164 Voyage of "The Two Siste:rs/' 

for some time. You have noticed that I am not 
afraid of a Httle grease and tar. The tar preserves 
the rigging and the grease makes things work easy. 
Now, you use the mallet and I will pass the ball for 
you. Stand on the left side of the rope, take hold 
of the end of the mallet handle with your left hand, 
also the spun yarn which you see leads around and 
around the handle up to the top of it. Always turn 
from right to left. That's right, go ahead. You 
can't go all the way around with your left hand ; 
turn the mallet half way around the rope with your 
left hand, the other half with your right. That's 
right. Don't let the mallet slip off, keep the rope in 
the groove. Let the yarn slip through your hand 
easily so that it can render around the mallet. All 
right, that's the ticket, you are doing very well. 
Jack, we are getting near the mark that the second 
mate told me to serve up to, so we will change ofif 
again and in a minute or two I will show you how 
to make the end fast." 

"I have learned how to make a man-rope knot, 
Tom, and I want you to show me how to make a 
single and double Matthew Walker." 

"Yes, Jack, I will, but tell me about the man-rope 
knot." 

"Oh, Sam taught me, Tom, and this is the rule he 
gave me : 'First a wall then a crown, then tuck up 
and then tuck down." 

"That's right, Jack, the knot consists of a double 
wall and double crown, but here we are up to the 
mark, now we will make the end fast. You see first 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 165 

I take off the mallet, now pass the ball around four 
times, then through underneath the four turns toward 
you, now you see that I bind these four turns 
around tight over the standing part with a marline 
spike, now I have a bight left in my hand. You 
haul it through. Does it come hard? Hold on a 
second, we will put a little grease on it. Now it 
pulls all right. There, that will do, cut the end off 
up close, I will give it a few taps with the mallet 
and that is the finishing touch. Jack, you asked me 
to show you how to make double and single Mat- 
thew Walker knots. Suppose we take one at a time, 
a single Matthew Walker; all of our lanyards are 
fitted with this kind of knot. Here is a piece of 
ratline stuff". In the first place take a piece of twine 
and put on a west country whipping. Always hold 
the rope in your left hand, unlay the strands back 
to the whipping with your right hand, then take the 
first strand and pass it around from right to left and 
up through its own bight, like this. Now take the 
second strand and pass it around underneath up 
through the first bight and its own bight. Take the 
third strand, pass it around underneath and up 
through the first two and its own bight. Haul the 
strands taut evenly, and if you were going to finish 
the knot, you would lay them up tightly, about two 
inches from the top, like this, and put on a whip- 
ping and cut off the ends." It was the starboard fore- 
toping lift that Tom and I had been working on. 
The second mate came forward and ordered Tom 
and Oleson to take it aloft. 



1 66 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters.'" 

"Jack," he said, "you can go back to your kedge 
anchor again." 

"Well," I thought, "that is too mean for anything, 
for I- have been over it twice already and have 
scraped it as clean as I could." He noticed that I 
hesitated, and added: 

"I guess Mr. Stover will take a look at it when 
he comes on deck, I will tell him that you have got 
all of the rust off of it." "Aye, aye, sir," I answered. 

I went and sat down by the side of it with my 
piece of ratline stuff and practiced on a single Mat- 
thew Walker until eight bells, when the mate came 
forward and inspected my work. 

"That will do," he said; "now, do you suppose 
that you could paint it?" 

"I think that I can, sir." 

"Well, we will see," he said; "come with me to the 
paint locker." He then got out some black paint 
and a brush. 

"Now, be careful; I don't want you to paint the 
deck, I only want you to paint the anchor, and 
when you get through, put your paint pot up here 
and the brush in that bucket of water, then come 
aft and report to me." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I said, as I took the pot and 
brush and marched off like an able seaman. 

It was Tom's watch below. He knew that the 
mate had set me at work to paint the anchor, so 
he came and showed me how to handle the brush. 
"I am glad that you came, Tom ; I never undertook 
to paint anything before." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 167 

"I thought perhaps I could help you out a little. 
Jack." 

"Tom, you are not looking as well to-day; you 
look yellow, why don't you have me do something 
for you?" 

"I am feeling wretched, Jack, and that's the truth. 
I set out to become a doctor once and studied medi- 
cine a little before I left the university, and accord- 
ing to my diagnosis, my liver is affected and I have 
a little touch of what you would call jaundice. I 
think that I had better see the captain myself. I 
can tell him what I need better than you can. You 
are doing very well. Jack. Don't leave any holidays. 
When you are through, wipe up these three or four 
spots off of the deck. I have an hour before sup- 
per and I am going to lie down. Good-bye." 

"Good-bye, Tom, I hope that the medicine will 
do you good." "Tom is like a big brother to me," I 
thought. I was now through painting, and after 
wiping up the spots that I had dropped and putting 
up the paint and brush in the locker, I went aft and 
reported to the mate. 

"All right. Jack," he said, "now you go up into 
the main top with Sam and loose the mizzentopmast- 
staysail and send up the maintopgallantstuddingsail. 
He will show you about it." 

"We will loose the staysail first. Jack," said Sam, 
as we got up into the top. "You see that when the 
sail is furled the sheet is always 'auled up into the 
top. Now you throw it down to the leeward while 
hi take the gasket hoff." 



1 68 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

As I threw the sheet down I called out, "Stand 
from under." 

"All ready, Jack," said Sam. 

"Hoist away mizzentopmaststaysail,sir," I shouted. 
While the sail was going up, he showed me how to 
make up the gasket : he coiled it up in his hand and 
then wound the standing part around and around the 
coil tightly, and passed the bight through and over 
the top of it. The gasket is allowed to swing. The 
topgallantstuddingsails have a small yard or boom 
across their tops. In furling the sail the yard is first 
made fast, up and down, to the forward topmast 
shroud. The sail is then gathered up and bound to 
the yard with a gasket. The tack is hauled up into 
the top, the halyards and sheet are unbent and made 
fast to the rigging. In sending up this sail, first, the 
tack is thrown on deck forward of the top and abaft 
the main yard. The halyard, a single rope, is made 
fast around the center of the yard with a studding- 
sail bend, that is, take two turns around the yard 
on the left of the standing part, pass the end around 
the standing part, from right to left, and underneath 
the two turns, and haul tight; then pass the end 
around the standing part again and through it's own 
bight. The greater the strain that the standing part 
is subjected to, the tighter this bend becomes, yet it 
never gets jammed. The sheet is bent on to the 
clew with the same bend, the sail is then shaken out 
forward of the top and hoisted from the deck. 

After making up the gasket, Sam went down. I 
was ordered up to loose the mainskysail; this sail 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 169 

is fitted with three gaskets, one on either side and 
one in the center, which is called the bunt gasket. 
I had unwound the gaskets on both sides and made 
them fast to the standing part of the halyards just 
above the yard. The sail was now ready to be set, 
and as I let go the bunt gasket, I shouted, with all 
my might, "Sheet home the mainskysail, sir." Af. 
ter I had overhauled the buntline, as I had seen the 
men do after loosing a sail, I slipped down the 
weather skysail backstay to the topmast crosstrees 
and from thence down by the ratlines. It was now 
four bells and my day's work was over. 

At the supper table that evening the steward and 
second mate had their usual chat and pleasant jokes 
with each other, which I always enjoyed. 

"Well, Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, "you have been 
a sailor boy now for a whole week; how do you 
like it?" 

"All right, sir." 

"Kedge anchor and all?" interrupted the steward. 

"It was not very pleasant, sir, to scrape it over 
and over again, but Tom explained to me the reason 
why the mate ordered me to do it." 

"What did Tom tell you. Jack?" inquired Mr. 
Fletcher. 

"He told me, sir, that after I had finished a piece 
of work it was not my place to go aft and report 
it, unless I had been previously ordered to do so, 
but that the officer of the watch should come and 
find out for himself." 



170 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters/'' 

"Tom is right," said Mr. Fletcher. "A sailor is 
not supposed to be hunting around decks to find 
something to do. If their officers can not find any 
work for them they are perfectly justified in remain- 
ing idle." 

"Mr. Fletcher, what is the ship's position at this 
time?" inquired the steward. 

"I am not the navigator, but I guess that we are 
about half way across to the cape on the 38th parallel. 
We made a little over six degrees of longitude dur- 
ing the last twenty-four hours." 

"Well, that sounds very good Mr. Fletcher," said 
the steward, "but you appear to be guessing at it. 
I want to know exactly. Suppose that the captain 
and mate should get washed overboard, what do you 
think would become of the ship and the crew? I 
think we would wake up some night. Jack, and find 
ourseleves ashore high and dry on some cannibal 
island." 

"Mr. Steward," retorted the second mate, "I have 
always told you that it would take nothing less than 
a shipwreck to wake you before morning. Now, 
just suppose that Cook should get washed overboard, 
instead of the captain and mate, I reckon that we 
would all die with the scurvy or be literally starved 
to death, if you had to do the cooking. Jack, if any- 
think should happen to the cook we would soon 
make mighty poor 'tucker' for the cannibals." 

It was my custom after supper to help the steward 
with the dishes, if there was nothing unusual going 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 171 

on on deck, also to do whatever Mrs. Benjamin re- 
quired of me. 

It is Monday morning, a week has passed since 
the above conversation at the supper table. We have 
had fair winds and sometimes they have been quite 
strong-. We caught another porpoise during the 
week, consequently we had a little change in our 
bill of fare. The regular bill of fare for the crew 
was beans, pea-soup, salt fish, canned meat once a 
week, duff twice a week, soft bread and dried apples 
or peaches stewed every Friday for supper, rice and 
cornmeal, hash once a day when we had potatoes 
or yam on board, also scouse, (a dish much more 
palatable than its name implies). It is simply hard 
tack made soft and mixed with bits of salt pork or 
beef and fried in the oven. All of the above dishes 
were accompanied by salt pork or beef, plenty of 
hard tack, molasses and sometimes pickles. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin on the morning of the 
day in question, 'T would like for you to help me 
do a little washing, if Mr. Fletcher will please ex- 
cuse you." 

"Jack is at your service, ma'am," replied the sec- 
ond mate. I was glad to have this little change 
from my usual work about decks, besides Mrs. Ben- 
jamin and I always had pleasant conversations to- 
gether whenever I was at wprk in her company. 

"In the first place," said Mrs. Benjamin, "we must 
get on the right side of the cook, for we will need 
several pails of hot water. You may take him a jar 
of this jelly with my compliments." 



172 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"Ee, Jack, I tells ye befo' dat de missis knows 
what's de rite ting. Now ye gets de water. I puts 
on de extry biler." Our extra supply of rain water 
was getting low, for we had had little rain since 
leaving the tropics. 

There was more work in getting ready to wash 
than in doing the washing itself. I did the rubbing, 
Mrs. Benjamin did the rinsing. I had had some 
practice and experience before, in washing my own 
clothes. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, as we were working 
together, "Mr. Stover reports that you are doing 
well as a sailor boy. He has a better opinion of 
you than you have ever given him credit for." 

"Sometimes, ma'am, I think that he has, and 
again at other times, I am quite sure that he has 
not. But Tom says that he probably means all right, 
that all officers do not use the same methods in teach- 
ing boys and I know that this is the truth, because 
there is a great difference between Mr. Stover and 
the second mate." 

"The most important thing about it, Jack, is, whose 
method produces the best results?" 

"I can not tell you, ma'am ; both of them have 
taught me some things which I will never forget, 
but I like the second mate's methods the best." 

"I am glad. Jack, that Tom gives you such good, 
practical advice from time to time." 

"I believe, ma'am, that Tom is now a true Chris- 
tion. He thanks you very much for the Bible, books 
and tracts, which you have sent him, poor fellow." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 173 

"Jack, the captain tells me that he does not ap- 
pear to be getting any better. I have noticed while 
he has been at the wheel that he looks quite ill. I 
must have a talk with him sometime before long." 

I hung up the clothes on the weather side between 
the main and mizzen rigging, also between the main 
and mizzenmast and across from rigging to mast. 
It was a nice, clear day and by four P. M., they 
were all dry and taken in. Mrs. Benjamin said that 
she would smooth them ofif a little the next day if 
I would furnish her with some hot irons. Although 
it was blowing a stiff breeze I did not lose any of 
the clothes overboard. 

As the captain and mate were taking the sun that 
day, they talked about the ship's position, as usual. 

I was working quite near them and, of course, took 
in all that I could hear. 

"Captain," said Mr. Stover, "we have made excel- 
lent time since we have been sailing on this course." 

"Yes," replied the captain, "if we could do as well 
during the whole voyage we would make it in less 
than a hundred days ; but a ship can make better 
time sailing in these latitudes bound east, than in 
any other part of the world. I think we had better 
head now straight for the cape, I would like to sight 
the highest point of it. We will have to make about 

I I degrees of longitude and 2 degrees of latitude be- 
fore we can get a glimpse of it. One thing is certain 
the cape pigeons will notify us when we get within 
seventy-five miles of it; they will not allow us to 
pass without making us a visit. We will probably 



174 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/' 

get into a change of weather by to-morrow. There 
will be a chance for us to test our best sails before 
getting into the Indian Ocean." 

"There is no doubt of that," said Mr. Stover, "but 
we will keep everything up snug and be ready for 
an emergency. It knows how to blow, sir, in the 
vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope when it gets 
ready." 

As I came on deck the next morning, it was very 
evident that the captain's prophecy concerning the 
change of weather would prove correct, also that the 
mate's extra precaution had been well taken. The 
sky was overcast, a fresh breeze was blowing. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "the barometer is 
steadily falling. Call all hands. Send down the sky- 
sail and royal yards." The upper sails had been pre- 
viously taken in. "As the wind is fair we will carry 
our lower sails as long as we deem it safe." 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the mate, "I think we 
had better send down the studdingsail-booms while 
we are about it." 

"All right, Mr. Stover, that will make us a little 
lighter aloft." 

In a few minutes all hands were on deck and work- 
ing with a will. Tom had become so weak that he 
was not required to go aloft, but was ordered to re- 
lieve the man at the wheel who took his place. Two 
men were sent up, both on the fore and main, to 
send down the yards. I followed on up the main 
rigging with a small rope to be used for a guy line 
to steady the yard while it was being lowered. When 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 175 

I had gotten about half way up to the main top the 
captain ordered me down and one of the men just 
above me to take up the guy rope. I was quite sure 
that I could have performed the work all right, but 
as it was quite rough the captain was afraid that I 
might fall. My sailor pride was very much humili- 
ated to be compelled to beat a retreat; however, 
when I reached the deck I watched my opportunity 
and took a responsible part in the work, that was 
in lowering the yard to the deck. 

I watched the men aloft while they were getting 
the yards ready to send down, one at a time. First, 
they bound the sails securely to the yards with ex- 
tra gaskets, then the clewlines and buntlines were 
unbent and made fast to the rigging; the guy rope 
was made fast a little more than half way out on the 
weather yard arm. Then the yard was hoisted a 
little, and as the guy rope was tautened up, it hung 
perpendicularly with the mast. The brace and top- 
ping-lift were taken off of the lower end of the yard, 
and as it was lowered the upper ones were removed 
and made secure to the masthead. The standing 
part of the halyards was stopped to the upper yard 
arm. Each yard was sent down abaft the topgallant- 
topsail and the lower yards, and forward of the top. 
A good strain being kept on the guy rope in order 
to steady them on the way down. The yards were 
not lowered to the deck but were triced up and down 
in the lower rigging. The studdingsail-booms, after 
having been sent down, were lashed fore and aft on 
top of the center house. 



176 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

The wind was on the starboard quarter and had 
been steadily increasing all the time that we were 
sending down the yards and booms. We now took 
in our topgallantsails, flying-jib, upper staysails and 
mizzentopsail. Everything was made secure, both 
aloft and on deck, the log was thrown, the wheel re- 
lieved and the watch went below. We were making 
thirteen and one-half knots. The second mate re- 
marked that the "Two Sisters" had settled down to 
business. 

After breakfast, I assisted the steward in making 
things snug about the cabins. I also helped Mrs. 
Benjamin put away some of her things. The cap- 
tain told us that we were on the eve of a heavy gale 
of wind which would probably be accompanied with 
very high seas. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "be careful and don't 
take any chances. The captain says that there is no 
need of your going aloft during this kind of weather." 
It rained quite fast, at intervals of ten or fifteen 
minutes. It was too rough for us to catch any fresh 
water. 

The second mate's watch was on deck. Some of 
the men were under the topgallantforecastledeck 
making mats of different kinds. Tom and I were 
located in the carpenter»'s room, plaiting sennit. I 
was glad of the opportunity to have another talk 
with my friend. 

"I do hope that you are feeling better by this time, 
Tom," I said. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 177 

"Nothing extra, Jack, nothing extra, but I hope 
that I shall hold out until we reach port, yet we 
are not yet half way out. I am not afraid of the 
great change, Jack, for I am sure that it is not any 
further from this world to the 'Paradise of God' at 
sea than on the land; but I would like to see my 
brother Fritz once more in this life. I want to tell 
him about the happy experience which I have, of 
which I knew nothing when I last saw him. You 
remember that I told you that he shipped for Shang- 
hai about a month before we left New York, at least 
I heard that he did. He is a good sailor. Jack, and per- 
haps will remain by the ship. If so I will meet him 
there if nothing happens." 

Quite a heavy sea was running, and just at that 
moment one of them boarded us over the weather 
gangway, and rushing in on us, our pleasant con- 
versation was abruptly cut off. 

"The 'Two Sisters' got a little the best of Oleson 
this time," said Tom. (Oleson was at the wheel). 
"We are carrying altogether too much sail." Tom's 
judgment was verified, for within a few moments the 
second mate shouted, "Call all hands. Shorten sail." 

Tom was ordered to take the wheel and was as- 
sisted by the captain. In the first place the mainsail 
was clewed up, mizzenstaysail taken in and spanker 
reefed, after which the foresail was reefed and set 
again, the fore and maintopsail reef-tackle were 
hauled out and two reefs were then put in the fore- 
topsail and it was hoisted, the mainsail was then 
furled, maintopsail two-reefed and set. The men 



178 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

sang their regular songs while hoisting the topsails. 
We were now under two-reefed topsails, reefed fore- 
sail and spanker, jib and foretopmaststaysail.. The 
sea was running very high and it was blowing "great 
guns and small arms." It was a beautiful sight, but 
it was becoming more and more dangerous. 

It was now noon, the watch went below, the log 
was thrown and it was found that we were making 
twelve knots. The captain and mate could not get 
an observation, the sun being obscured. While I 
was clearing up the ropes around the main and miz- 
zen-rigging, and tricing them up to keep them from 
washing about the decks, the first mate and captain 
were discussing the storm. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "if it does not get 
any worse I think that we can run all night with 
safety." 

"Don't know," replied Mr. Stover, as he looked to 
the windward and shook his head, "it will be mighty 
dangerous to-night, sir." Just at this time Mrs. Ben- 
jamin appeared in the companionway and informed 
the captain that the barometer was still falling. 

"I object to heaving the ship to with a fair wind," 
he said, "except it is absolutely necessary; however, 
we will carry what sail we are under at present un- 
til eight bells (four P. M.). By that time we will 
decide what to do for the night." 

"Jack," said Mr. Stover, "you get a piece of ratline 
stuff and bend it around your waist and keep an e)^e 
open to the windward and if you think one of these 
seas is going to board us, make yourself fast to the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 179 

nearest object at hand, but bear a hand with those 
ropes, and don't be promenading around the decks 
any more than is necessary." "Aye, aye, sir," I an- 
swered. 

After dinner I was ordered to get out the ball of 
sennit again in company with Sam. As we worked 
together, I said, "This is a heavy gale, Sam." 

"Yes, Jack, and I thinks it is increasing. Hi 'ave 
made six trips across the western ocean from Liver- 
pool to New York, two in the 'Dreadnought,' two 
in the 'Snow Squall' and two in the 'Winged Racer.' 
Jack, they just drive those ships hawfully, but hall 
that is said about Captain Samuels, Waterman and 
the rest of 'um, they can't beat hour skipper for car- 
rying sail. We orter be under close reefed topsails 
this blessed minit and hi will wager my houtfit that 
we will 'ave to before dark. Hi never see such 'igh 
seas in all my born days." 

"Sam, you remember when we crossed the line, 
were you afraid of old Neptune?" 

"Hafraid? not a bit of it. Jack. I knowed hit was 
only a lark. They calls hit in the big schools of 
old England ' 'azing.' There hain't no lark in it 
though for the chap that is being ' 'azed.' " 

"It all seemed very real to me that day, Sam, yet 
I could not imagine how it could be. I know all 
about it now. The old Scotchman in your watch 
acted old Neptune. He played his part well, Sam. 
He did look as though he was some kind of amphibi- 
ous creature which had come up from the bottom 



i8o Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/'' 

of the ocean, sure enough. It was strange that I did 
not miss him from among the crew." 

"They took several days gittin' ready, Jack, but 
hi 'ad an hinkhng hof what was going hon." 

"Sam, where do you hve? Tell me about your 
home." 

"Hi live in Manchester hin old England, Jack, big 
town for mills and factories. Hi worked in a cot- 
ton mill till hi got to be six and ten years hold, 
then my old man up and died and hi 'ave been cruis- 
ing about the Scandinavian ports hup the Mediter- 
ranean and hacross the western ocean, going hon 
now for these eight years. Hi 'ave been in some 
'ardships and 'ave come nigh 'kicking the bucket' 
more'n once. The old girl, two sisters an' a brother, 
they be all hat work in the mills." 

"How long is it since you have been home, Sam ?" 

"Hi was 'ome to see the old girl and the rest of 'm 
just two months gone before I joined the 'Two Sis- 
ters.' " 

"You get home oftener than Tom does, Sam ?" 

"Poor chap, hi don't think he'll hever see his 'ome 
agin, Jack. Looks like 'im goin' to Davey Jones' 
locker' fore long." 

"I hope not, Sam, but if it be so it is only his body 
that will be consigned to 'Davey Jones' locker,' for 
I believe that he, himself, will go straight to the 
'Paradise of God.' " 

"Shouldn't wonder, Jack, Tom's chock a block full 
of religion. The chap didn't look it though when I 



A Cabin Boy's Story. i8i 

fust see 'im, before we joined this ship. The hold 
girl and the rest of 'm be Wesleyan Methodists and 
hi, myself, was brought up in the Methodist meet- 
ing house, so hi knows myself what religion is. Jack, 
when hi sees hit." 

"There goes eight bells, Sam, and here comes the 
mate forward." 

"Call all hands. Shorten sail," he shouted. The 
storm was still increasing; the wind was blowing 
fiercely and the sea was running higher than ever. 
The "Two Sisters" was just flying through the water, 
she appeared to be skipping from the top of one sea 
to another. The captain seemed a little nervous, and 
I did not think it strange that he did, for, as the 
second mate expressed it, "it looks awfully wicked." 

"Mr. Stover," called out the captain, "we don't 
want to lose any of our sails while taking them in. 
Handle one at a time." "Aye, aye, sir" he shouted. 
First the spanker was taken in and furled, then the 
foretopsail was close reefed and the jib taken in, af- 
ter which the maintopsail was taken in and furled, 
also the foresail. We were now running directly be- 
fore the wind under close reefed foretopsail and fore- 
topmaststaysail. After all this, the wheel was re- 
lieved and the watch went below. According to the 
log, we were going through the water at the rate of 
eleven knots; besides this the sea was pushing" us 
ahead several knots an hour. I then went into the 
cabin and inquired of Mrs. Benjamin what I could 
do for her. 



1 82 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/'' 

The captain and first mate were discussing the 
situation. "I think that we had better bring the ship 
to before dark," said the captain. "It would be ex- 
ceeding dangerous to run, to-night." 

"I think we have run too long already, sir," re- 
plied Mr. Stover. "I never saw the sea roll higher, 
but they are as regular as clock work; two high seas 
and three small ones. I think, sir, that we can heave 
to without any trouble if we watch our chance." 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "I would like to have 
a little hot water if you think that you can get it 
without running too much risk." 

"Get it ! why, I have got to get it, ma'am, if you 
want it, risk or no risk. I can go to the galley and 
back during the time between the big and smaller 
seas." I reached the galley, all right. "Cook," I 
said, "Mrs. Benjamin would like a little warm water, 
if you please." 

"Ee, Jack, got 'im hot, git me the pail." 

"This is a great storm. Cook. Tell me when there 
is a good chance for me to get aft." 

"Ee, Jack, I tells ye. Dis de biggest storm I eber 
seen. Spects de captain makes de ship heave to be- 
fore it be dark." 

"Yes, Cook, we are going to heave to at four bells." 

"Now is de time. Jack, run." 

When I reached the cabin I found that the cap- 
tain was having a moment or two of conversation 
with Mrs. Benjamin. "Jack," he said, "Mrs. Benja- 
min will not require anything more from the galley 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 183 

to-night, and if ever you expect to see Long Island 
again, you stay in the cabin. It isn't safe on deck 
for a youngster hke you; in fact, it isn't safe for 
anyone, whoever they are, without being lashed. 
You may stand in the campanionway and keep Mrs. 
Benjamin posted of what is going on, as you did 
during the hurricane." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. Yet I felt a little 
ashamed of myself and grieved to think that I could 
not go on deck and lash myself as the men. 

It was now four bells. The captain went on deck 
and ordered Mr. Stover to have the foretopsail taken 
in and furled snug. A small storm trysail had previ- 
ously been bent on the spankermast over the furled 
spanker, and the mizzenstaysail gear doubled up 
preparatory to heaving to. 

'T am always afraid of this heaving-to business, 
Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin. 

"But it is much safer, ma'am to head up to the 
wind and sea in a time like this than it would be 
to run the ship before it especially in the night." 

"Yes, Jack, that is true, but there is much danger 
while the ship is coming to." 

"I guess you are right, ma'am, but the 'Two Sis- 
ters' knows how to behave herself if only given a 
chance and Captain Benjamin knows just how to give 
her that chance." 

"I hope so, Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin. 

I then took up my position in the companionway. 
We were running under the foretopmaststaysail. 



184 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

which was not sail enough to keep us out of reach 
of the seas. 

"The sooner we come to, sir the better," shouted 
Mr. Stover. 

"All right," said the captain. "Brace up the main 
yards on the port tack." The second mate and three 
men were stationed forward, the rest of the crew 
were aft. "Now is a good time," shouted the cap- 
tain, "down with the foretopmaststaysail. Hard to 
starboard your helm. Up with the trysail and miz- 
zenstaysail." 

I then closed the cabin doors and listened. The 
headsails were down, the trysail and mizzenstaysail 
were set. The ship was gradually coming to the 
wind. Suddenly the mate cried out : 

"Everybody look out for themselves." At this mo- 
ment the ship gave a tremendous lurch to the leeward 
and at the same time a heavy sea came crashing over 
us. I could hear nothing on deck except the howl- 
ing of the wind and roar of the mighty ocean. I 
was afraid, and my anxiety was increased as I heard 
Mrs. Benjamin cry out with fear. I knew that some 
damage had been done, but could not tell just what 
it was. In a minute or two the ship was lying head 
to the wind and sea, and was comparatively out of 
danger. I then heard the first mate's voice calling 
to the captain : 

"All hands are safe, sir ! ' Nothing serious, nothing 
serious." 

I then rushed into the after-cabin where Mrs. Ben- 
jamin was patiently waiting. "Good news, ma'am, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 185 

good news," I exclaimed. ''All hands are safe ! No 
serious damage." 

"I thank our Heavenly Father, Jack, I heard that 
terrible sea board us and I was fearful that some one 
would be lost." 

I then went back and opened the cabin doors and 
took a look out on deck. I found the captain and 
told him that Mrs. Benjamin was all right. 

"Glad to hear it, Jack. Tell her that we're all safe, 
only the booby hatch smashed and one of our boats 
stove, just a little job for the carpenter, that's all, 
and that I expect to go below soon." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I said, and hurried ofif. As I en- 
tered the after-cabin Mrs. Benjamin appeared to be 
expecting me, for she said : 

"Well done. Jack, glad to see you, what is the 
news?" 

"The captain told me to say, ma'am, that all were 
safe, only the booby hatch was smashed and one of 
our boats stove, only a little job for the carpenter, 
that is all, and that he would be in the cabin soon." 

"I will be very much pleased to see him, Jack, but 
I would prefer that the carpenter might be found 
employment by some other means. I wonder how 
poor Tom is getting on, Jack." 

"I heard the captain order the second mate to send 
him below for the night, ma'am." 

The captain then entered. "Mrs. Benjamin," he 
said, "the 'Two Sisters' is lying to, like a gull. She 



1 86 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

appears to be resting, comparatively, just as you do 
in your greatest trials. Your rest seems calm, di- 
vinely beautiful." 

"I thank you, sir," said she, "but I was exceeding- 
ly fearful this evening for the safety of the captain 
and his brave crew." 

"My dear," replied the captain, "your faith and 
prayers have always been a source of inspiration for 
me to do my best." 

"Jack, my lad, you go and turn in now and dream 
about home," he said, "we want to get the ship on 
her course again as soon as it is light, to-morrow 
morning." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. 

The next morning after the watch had had their 
coffee, all hands were called and the ship was kept 
off on her course. We ran all day under a close- 
reefed foretopsail, reefed foresail and foretopmast- 
staysail. While we were getting off before the wind 
the ship lingered a moment or two in the trough of 
the sea and one of them came rushing over us. It 
filled the main deck full, from rail to rail. I was 
standing on the weather side. I thought that I was 
overboard as the water was over my head for a few 
seconds. You can imagine how glad and thankful 
I was when I found myself lashed up to a belaying 
pin. I had previously made myself fast with the 
piece of ratline stuff that I wore around my waist. 
The ports were opened and the extra water soon 
escaped. The second mate called out: 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 187 

"Jack, you haven't any business to expose yourself 
at a time like this, but the worst is over now." 

The captain did not mean for me to be on deck, 
but while they were taking in the mizzenstaysail and 
trysail, I slipped out of the cabin unobserved and 
ran forward and helped in setting the foretopmast- 
staysail. The heavy gale and high seas did not 
moderate any during the day, so the ship was hove 
to again before dark, without meeting with any ac- 
cident. It moderated on the following morning, 
however, and we got under way under two reefed 
topsails, courses, jib, spanker and lowerstaysails. 
The captain and Mr. Stover succeeded in getting ob- 
servations at noon. 

"We will make land before this time to-morrow, 
Mr. Stover," said the captain, " if the wind does not 
die out. There is usually a strong current here run- 
ning to the westward, which we will escape from 
when we get within twenty-five miles of the land." 

"Perhaps it might have been better, sir, if we had 
run up our longitude, say to between 60 degrees and 
70 degrees east on the fortieth parallel," remarked 
Mr. Stover; "however, we have done very well so 
far." 

It still continued to moderate, and at two P. M., 
we shook the reefs out of our topsails, set the top- 
gallantsails, flying-jib, upperstaysails and mizzen- 
topsail. The ship was hauled up a little on the port 
tack, just enough to make all of the sails draw well. 

While loosing the topgallantsails the men sighted 
a sail dead ahead. We soon made her out to be a 



Voyage of "The Two Sisters./ 



sailing ship, flying a signal of distress. Some of 
her spars were gone. When we were near enough 
to read her signals we found that she was out of 
fresh water, we saw that her mizzenmast, foretop- 
mast, and maintopgallantmast with all the yards 
and rigging attached and her jib-boom had gone by 
the board; her starboard bulwarks had also been 
washed away. 

After coming up with the stranger we hove to un- 
der her lee. Then her captain shouted out his story. 
She proved to be the American whaler, "Sea Witch," 
and had encountered very bad weather, heavy winds 
and high seas. Besides receiving the damage men- 
tioned above, several boats had been smashed, water 
casks lost, galley stove in; she had a crew of thirty- 
five, all told, all hands safe, had only about twenty 
gallons of water on board. Could we spare them 
any fresh water? They expected to put into Cape 
Town, which port was seventy-five miles away, but 
in their crippled condition several days might elapse 
before reaching it. 

It was arranged that we should supply them with 
a two hundred and fifty gallon cask of water, but 
as it was still quite rough, we agreed to lay b}^ them 
until six P. M. It was thought that the sea would 
be sufficiently smooth by that time to enable them 
to launch a boat and come alongside with safety. 
In the meantime we took in our topgallantsails, 
flying-jib, upperstaysails, and mizzentopsail. We suc- 
ceeded in getting several miles to the windward of 
the crippled ship. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 189 

Cape pigeons were all around, during the after- 
noon. It was a beautiful sight to watch them in 
their evolutions as they circled around us. When we 
threw anything overboard, all of them would make 
a dash for it. We caught several of them. It was 
amusing to see them waddling about the deck, try- 
ing to fly. They could not fly from the deck, but 
if you picked one of them up and threw it over- 
board or up into the air, it was ofif in an instant. 
As Tom was something of a taxidermist, he suc- 
ceeded in preserving the skins of a pair of the birds 
and mounted them for Mrs. Benjamin. 

It was then four bells ; the sea had run down con- 
siderably as had been anticipated. Everything was 
made ready. The cask of water had been hoisted 
on the poop deck, and a tow-line attached to it. All 
hands, both fore and aft, had taken advantage of 
their opportunity to write letters. They were all put 
into one package and sewed up in a small canvas 
bag and labeled, "Mail transferred from the Amer- 
ican bark 'Two Sisters' to the American whaler, 'Sea 
Witch' for Cape Town, South Africa." 

"The Sea Witch" had launched one of her boats. 
They were pulling directly for us. We then kept the 
"Two Sisters" off and run for them. We hove to, 
just a little to the windward of their boat. When 
they had rowed up under our lee we exchanged 
greetings with each other and at the same time 
threw the bag of letters into their boat, then rolled 
the cask of water overboard and threw them the tow 
line. As they were to the windward of their ship 



190 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/"" 

they soon reached her. We lay by them until the 
cask had been safely hoisted on deck. As they did not 
require any other assistancewe kept off on our course. 
While passing by the whaler, close under her quar- 
ter, we bade each other farewell. Her crew lined 
up on the quarter deck and gave us three hearty 
cheers, which was answered by dipping our ensign. 
As soon as they had hoisted their boat they also kept 
off on their course and came limping along after us. 
Their course, however, lay a little to the northward 
of ours, as we only expected to sight the land, while 
they intended to make port. 

On the following morning at daylight the wind 
was light and the sea had gone down. We sent up 
royal and skysail-yards, studdingsail-booms and made 
all sail. At seven bells we made land just forward 
of the port beam, only a glimpse of it, however. 
As Tom and I were working together during the 
forenoon watch, we talked about the land, the 
crippled "Sea Witch," and his illness. 

"Tom, do you know just what part of the world 
we are in?" 

"Not exactly. Jack, but the land which we sighted 
this morning was probably the highest point of 
Table Mountain, near Cape Town, in Cape Colony, 
the extreme southern portion of Africa. This grand 
division of the earth's surface represents more ignor- 
ance and dark superstition than all the other parts 
of the earth reckoned together. Millions upon mil- 
lions of human beings ; in fact, about all of her 
people, one hundred and fifty millions or more, are 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 191 

living in gross, uncivilized heathenism. There are 
at present several colonies in South Africa and there 
exists already much jealousy between them. There 
is not a man living at this time who can correctly 
foretell the destiny of this dark continent, but I be- 
lieve that it has a great future before it. Jack, you 
notice the white, fleecy clouds hanging over the bit 
of land which we saw this morning. They are what 
sailors call the "devil's tablecloth." It is said that 
whenever such clouds appear in like position that a 
southeast storm is imminent, which statement I can- 
not affirm or deny at present." 

"Tom, how would you like to have been trans- 
ferred to the 'Sea Witch' and taken to Cape Town 
and placed in a hospital?" 

"I thought of it, Jack, but there would have been 
so much red tape attached to it, then again the sea 
was a little too rough. I was afraid that I was not 
quite strong enough to get in and out of that boat 
with safety." 

'T think the captain would have allowed you to 
go, Tom, if you had desired it." 

"I have no doubt of that, Jack, Captain Benjamin 
is the very best skipper I ever sailed with." 

"I hope, Tom, that the climate on the Indian 
Ocean will agree with you better than that of the 
South Atlantic." 

*T hope so. Jack, but I am not suffering any pain 
to-day, maybe I'll pull through all right after all." 

"I don't know how I would get along without you, 
Tom." 



192 Voyage of '^The Two Sisters/'' 

"Don't get discouraged, Jack. 'Rejoice evermore. 
Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks.' 
Hold a good turn, my hearty, and we will try and 
heave ahead a length or two." 

"Yes, Tom, I will look on the bright side and en- 
deavor to do the very best that I can." 

"But, Jack, suppose there are circumstances arising 
in your life in which there does not appear to be 
any bright side to look upon, what then ?" 

"Well, Tom, in that case I would do the next best 
thing, as some one has said, Tf you can find no 
bright side in your trouble to look upon, polish up 
the dark one." 

"There goes eight bells, we have had a good, long 
talk this morning. You are looking tired, Tom I 
hope that you will have a good rest this afternoon." 

"You forget, Jack, that I have all night in, but I 
don't feel as though I could sit up another minute. 
Let me see, it is the second mate's watch on deck 
this afternoon, will you tell him, if he please, that 
I would like to see him after dinner?" 

"Yes, Tom, I will. Good-bye for the present." 

"So long, Jack, for this time." 

At the dinner table the steward and Mr. Fletcher 
discoursed about the voyage and the incidents of the 
last few days. "I suppose that the 'Sea Witch' is 
quite well in shore by this time. Perhaps she will 
make Cape Town to-night," said the steward. "My! 
she was awfully stove in, though ; the storm must 
have been much more severe where she was than 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 193 

in our vicinity. It was a miracle that she did not 
lose some of her crew overboard. I should have 
thought that they would have had some fresh water 
stored below decks. I wonder if one sea did all of 
the damage?" 

''Well, Mr. Steward, is that all the information 
that you desire for the present ?" inquired the sec- 
ond mate. "In the first place I reckon that the 'Sea 
Witch' will get into port to-night if the wind does 
not exhaust itself. I don't suppose that she experi- 
enced any heavier weather than we did, simply un- 
fortunate, that's all. A weak spot somewhere in her 
mainmast caused all of the trouble. I calculate that 
they were hove to under a close-reefed maintopsail 
and mizzentrysail, and when the ship lost her main- 
mast and fell off into the trough of the sea and 
before they could recover themselves, several of the 
big waves boarded them and smashed up things. 
They were very lucky that they did not have a hole 
pierced through them below the waterline by the 
broken masts or yards. No, I don't believe that there 
was any mismanagement about the whole affair, for 
if there is anybody afloat who knows how to handle 
a ship, these whaling skippers are the men who can 
do it. You may write that down as a fact. Now, 
about her crew not getting washed overboard, no 
miracle about that whatever. Probably half of them 
were overboard cutting away the wreckage. You 
noticed that they saved some of the spars. They 
got a hawser made fast to the mainmast somehow, 
just how they did it with such a heavy sea running, 



194 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

I cannot tell, but they did; then they made use of 
the whole wreckage as a drag and held the ship up 
head to the wind and sea, by it. Sometimes, when 
attacking a whale, these men get thrown up into the 
air, boat and all, and sometimes it happens that they 
are drawn down into the depths, but somehow they 
get back on board their ship again all right. Why, 
it is almost impossible to drown one of those chaps. 
No doubt they did have some fresh water below 
decks, but probably lost it. I was in the clipper 
ship 'Challenge,' a little over a year ago, on her 
voyage home from 'Frisco, and while running in a 
terrible storm off Cape Horn we shipped a fearful sea 
which stove in the after-hatch and flooded the store 
room, spoiling all of the fresh water that was stored 
there. The tanks had been purposely left open for 
ventilation. Now, do these explanations meet with 
the approval of your royal highness?" 

"Yes," replied the steward, "but how do you hap- 
pen to know just what was done on board the 'Sea 
Witch' at that time?" 

"I know about what ought to have been done un- 
der such circumstances," said Mr. Fletcher, "and I 
also know that they knew how to do it. Perhaps 
you had better make a note of it all and correspond 
with the skipper at some future time." 

"Very well," answered the steward, sarcastically, 
"but I will accept your theory for the present. I am 
much obliged to you, sir." 

"Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, "between you and me, 
I believe that the steward of the 'Sea Witch' was 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 195 

out in the thickest of it all, and not stowed away 
in his berth most of the time, like some one we 
know of." 

"Perhaps he was," retorted steward, "but hot cof- 
fee, cake, and sandwiches do not amount to anything, 
I suppose, while the storm is on, when you are wet 
and cold, hungry and tired." 

"I reckon they do amount to something," said Mr. 
Fletcher, "they just touch the spot. What do you 
say. Jack?" 

"That's the truth, sir," I answered. 

"Well, Steward," he continued, "leaving all jokes 
aside, we all did our very best. The 'Two Sisters' be- 
haved splendidly. We were very fortunate to get 
out of the gale without serious accident. When that 
sea boarded us, which filled up our main deck, I 
thought that Jack was overboad for certain, but I 
found that he knew how to take care of himself very 
well, for there he was lashed up to a belaying pin. 
That's right. Jack, always observe this rule in a time 
like that, 'one hand for the owners and the other for 
yourself.' " 

"Jack is using both hands for himself now," said 
the steward. 

"Never mind that. Jack, we are using both hands 
and both feet for the owners most of the time," said 
Mr. Fletcher, "the steward can belay that and make 
it well fast." 

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the steward," but what 
about the voyage?" 



196 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

"Seventy-three days out, this afternoon," answered 
the second mate, "somewhere near half way to our 
destination. Let us see, we have made about 77 de- 
grees latitude and 90 degrees longitude and we have 
got yet some 67 degrees latitude and 100 degrees 
longitude to make. These figures, however, do not 
determine the distance we have sailed nor the num- 
ber of miles we will have to sail, in order to reach 
China, as our course necessarily has been and will 
be very indirect, because of prevailing winds and 
currents. But as I have told you, several times, I 
am not a navigator, and if you think that you can 
diagnose the voyage any better, go ahead." 

"Well," replied the steward, "I know that we have 
just about entered into the Indian Ocean, and that 
we will continue on in an easternly direction until 
we get somewhere in the vicinity of the Island of St. 
Paul and then head up for the Straits of Malacca, 
that's all I know about it for the present, but I 
know this, that I can keep you and all the rest of the 
crew good natured so long as the provisions hold 
out." 

"Your reckoning is not very definite, to say the 
least," said Mr. Fletcher, "but in regard to your lat- 
ter statement, I congratulate you in your endeavor 
and success, so far during the voyage, and we trust 
that you will continue in well doing until the end. 
Allow me, Mr. Steward, to further state that I ap- 
preciate your services highly, especially at meal 
times." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 197 

"I thank you, Admiral, I am at your service, sir,'* 
answered the steward. 

"By the way, Jack, how is your friend Tom getting 
along?" 

"He does not seem to be improving, sir, I am 
afraid that he will never be any better. If you please, 
sir, he would like to see you after dinner." 

"All right, Jack. Poor fellow, I am afraid that we 
will lose him. We are not helping him any, that is, 
what we do does not seem to benefit him." Turning 
to the steward, he said, "Tom is a regular marline- 
spike sailor and one of the very best men at the 
wheel or on a yard that I ever was shipmate with. 
If he could only eat something, perhaps it would 
strengthen him." 

"Yes," replied the steward, "but Mrs. Benjamin 
and I have tried to tempt his appetite with all of 
the delicacies that we have on board, but have not 
succeeded." 

"That proves that he is a sick man," said Mr. 
Fletcher, "we will never be sorry for all we do for 
that chap. Jack, let us go and see him." We found 
him in his bunk. 

"Well, Tom, how are you feeling?" 

"I am too weak to be of any use on deck this af- 
ternoon. I am sorry, sir, but I cannot help it." 

"We only wish that you could help it, Tom, I 
know that you- are not the man to be playing-off 
sick. All that we require of you is to eat hearty and 
get well as soon as possible. We will all do our best 



198 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters/'' 

to help you, Tom, the captain is searching the 
medicine book, Mrs. Benjamin and the steward will 
keep you supplied with nicknacks, and with Jack as 
your head nurse, I reckon that you will pull through 
all right." 

"I don't know," answered Tom, 'T will try as 
hard as I can, sir." 

"That's right, my hearty," said Mr. Fletcher, 
"where there is a will there is a way." 

"That is a good prescription," answered Tom, "but 
our Heavenly Father's will is higher than ours, sir." 

"That's the very truth, Tom, we will make it well 
fast with two round turns, a half hitch and the end 
stopped back. You are exempt from further duty, 
Tom, until you are strong again. I hope that you 
will have a good rest this afternoon. Jack will run 
occasionally to see you, and if you need anything, 
let him know." The second mate reported to the 
captain, who said : "We will do what we can for 
him but we cannot cure him." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 199 



Chapter X. 
JFtom Cape ot (I5ooli ^ope to strait ot !9l^alacca 

It was Christmas Day. I was at the wheel from 
ten to twelve A. M. I had been steering my regular 
trick, that was from ten to twelve A. M. and from 
two to four P. M. every day, when the weather was 
moderate, ever since Tom had been laid up. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "we have scarcely 
averaged one hundred miles to the twenty-four hours 
in the past twenty days, since passing the cape. I 
am expecting that we will do much better than that 
during the remainder of the voyage." 

"We will be fortunate, sir," said Mr. Stover, "if 
we do not fall in with a tempest of some kind be- 
fore we reach our destination. Christmas at sea/" 
he contiued, "always makes me feel a little home- 
sick, though, I have not had a real home for many 
long years, but I cannot forget my boyhood days." 

"Well," replied the captain, "it is not any sign of 
weakness in a sailor to meditate on such things oc- 
casionally, especially at Christmas time; but," he 
added, in an undertone, not intended for me to hear," 
"I think that the boy stands it bravely." 

"Oh, well," said Mr. Stover, "all hands make a 
pet of him, it was different, sir, when I was a lad 
on board of a ship." 



200 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/^ 

"I cannot understand," said Captain Benjamin, 
"where there is any sense, justice or profit to take 
a boy to sea and then allow the ship's company to 
torment, persecute and to make his life generally 
miserably. How do you head, Jack?" 

"East by North, sir." 

"Keep her a good full," said the captain. 

"Aye, aye, sir." 

"I tell you the truth, Mr. Stover, wherever Mrs. 
Benjamin is located, that's my home, and it will give 
us great pleasure to extend to you, sir, an invitation 
this Christmas day, one thousand eight hundred 
fifty-eight, to dine with us at our home." 

"I am very grateful to you and Mrs. Benjamin, 
sir, for your kind invitation. I will be pleased to 
dine with you and yours, sir, on this, our Master's 
birthday." 

I thought that if Mr. Stover, with all of his long 
experience, was homesick at times, he ought to have 
a little more consideration for me. I was very glad 
that the captain gave him his idea of how a boy on 
board of a ship should be treated, for I was quite 
sure that if the mate followed his own inclinations 
regarding the matter he would make my life on board 
the "Two Sisters" somewhat unpleasant. One bell 
soon came, and I was relieved from the wheel and 
went to dinner. 

As it was Christmas, there was a special bill of fare 
provided, for both fore and aft, and all hands were 
given a holiday. It had been very hot and dry dur- 
ing the past three weeks. All hands had been put 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 201 

on an allowance of water, one gallon per man for 
twenty-four hours, two quarts, however, of each 
man's allowance went to the cook for cooking, cof- 
fee, tea, etc. At first thought, two quarts of drinking- 
water for twenty-four hours, including one quart of 
coffee or tea, would seem sufhcient, but the very 
fact of one being put on strict allowance, especially 
in hot weather, seemed to create of itself an unquench- 
able thirst. The truth was we were thirsty about all 
of the time. 

Tom had been getting w^eaker steadily in spite of 
all that we could do. He was a very sick man. I 
took care of him during most of the day, Sam and 
others of the crew the rest of the time ; the cook, 
too, had a share in it, for underneath his black skin 
was a kind, sympathetic and helpful spirit of love 
for his shipmates, and a fine sense of his obligations 
to those wdio might need his assistance. Tom had 
been removed to the carpenter's room. It was much 
quieter there, and w^e could take care of him with- 
out disturbing the watch below. Not a man on 
board of the ship ever seemed to weary of caring for 
him. Even Mr. Stover, with all of his strict dis- 
ciplinary propensities and rough exterior, was as 
gentle and tender-hearted as a woman in Tom's pres- 
ence. Mrs. Benjamin visited him twice every day 
and ministered to him, not only in temporal, but also 
in spiritual things, reading from the Bible, and choice 
tracts, and sometimes praying with him. Tom did 
not make any more trouble than was absolutely 



202 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters." 

necessary. He seldom ever asked for anything. In 
expressing his gratitude, he said: 

"I have no occasion to ask for anything. Every- 
body seems dehghted and anxious to supply my every 
need." He was very much concerned, however, not 
because of his physical condition, for he had about 
lost his grip on this life, but for the eternal welfare 
of his shipmates. He had spoken to every man on 
board and had given every one advice and counsel 
in regard to their responsibility to God and the neces- 
sity of repentance. To the first mate, he said: 

"Mr. Stover, I know you to be an experienced and 
faithful officer. Jack has told me, sir, that you were 
quite familiar with the Bible when you were a lad. 
Please allow me to urge, you, sir, to 'study to show 
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth 
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
truth.' " He also exhorted the captain to follow the 
example of Mrs. Benjamin, and pointed him to the 
great 'Captain of our salvation.' 

About a week had intervened while these warniijo^s 
and exhortations were given to every member of the 
crew. After all hands had promised to give heed to 
his advice, and to strive to live better lives, he rested 
quietly and seemed quite contented. Tom used but 
little of his allowance of water. It was his delight, 
when any one dropped in to see him, to offer a 
drink, "A cup of cold water in the name of the 
disciple," he would say. We realized the deep, full 
meaning of that passage as never before, as we ac- 
cepted of his "treat" as he called it. For, as I 



A Cabin Boyd's Story. 203 

have told you, we were thirsty about all of the time. 
If the habit of treating to strong drink, which pre- 
vails throughout the Christian world were changed 
to that of performing little acts of loving kindness, 
and supplying real personal needs, what a great bles- 
sing it would be to men and women, and especially 
to children; besides a mighty temperance reform 
would at once be inaugurated. 

It was four P. M., the day after Christmas. After 
I had been relieved from the wheel, I went in to 
watch with Tom. He was conscious and fully 
realized his condition. "I have come in to stay with 
you a while, Tom," I said. I then told him about 
what was going on on deck and that Mrs. Benja- 
min would perhaps be in to see him before long. 
He answered slowly, but quite firmly, I thought : 

"It is your last watch with me. Jack." 

"Oh, no Tom, no, no," I said. 

"Yes, Jack," he reiterated, "your last watch. God 
bless you and Mrs. Benjamin and all the rest." 

He knew that he was dying, but I did not realize 
it. He was too weak to say anything more at that 
time. I knew that he was always glad to have me 
read to him out of the Bible. It was a source of 
rest and comfort to him. I then took his book and 
began reading from the fourteenth chapter of St. 
John's gospel. 

After a while the second mate came in to see him. 
Tom roused up a little and recognized him. 



204 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"Tom, how are you feeling, my hearty? I have 
missed you on the weather yard-arm every time that 
we have reefed topsails," said Mr. Fletcher. 'Tt 
seems to me that half of my watch were gone since 
you have been laid up." 

The steward then came in with some nourishment, 
but Tom could not even taste it. By six bells every 
one of the crew in turn had been in to see him. 
Tom recognized them all; as each one took his hand, 
he said "good night" or "good-bye !" They all knew 
that Tom had given them his last words of counsel. 
A little before eight bells, he said, "Jack, read." I 
took the book and began reading from the Revela- 
tion of St. John : "And I saw a new heaven and a 
new earth," etc. 

It was then eight bells, and as I laid the book aside, 
Tom thanked me and made me understand by press- 
ing my hand that he comprehended and appreciated 
what I had read. A few minutes after eight bells 
the captain, Mrs. Benjamin and the first mate came in. 

"Tom," said Captain Benjamin, "we came in to 
bid you 'good-night.' We hope that you will rest 
well." 

Tom gathered all the strength at his command and 
answered, "Aye, aye, sir, I shall soon be at rest. My 
dear Captain, one more request, sir, only one." 

"All right, Tom, I will do my best. What is it?" 

"Please, sir, after I am gone, if it be possible, may 
my allowance of drinking water be divided between 
Jack and Sam. Jack showed me how to 'take the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 205 

water of life freely' and both of them have cared 
for me like a brother." 

"Yes, Tom, I will see that they get it. It will 
make one quart extra for each of them." 

Mrs. Benjamin then spoke a few comforting words 
to him and sang. The captain and Mr. Stover and 
some of the crew, who were standing about the door 
joining, as best they could. After this she offered 
a prayer. It w^as a solemn and impressive scene. 
On board of a ship at sea, at night, a redeemed soul 
full of faith and glorious expectation at the point of 
death, a devout Christian woman kneeling by his 
bedside in fervent prayer. Captain, ofhcers and crew 
standing around, and in the midst of it all a song 
of faith and triumph. Sam came in to relieve me, and 
as I was expected to take my place again at four 
A. M. on the following morning, the captain ordered 
me to go and turn in. As I took Tom's hand in 
mine, he said very distinctly: 

"Jack, 3^our last watch with me is over. Farewell, 
my boy, farewell." 

"Good-night, Tom, I will see you in the morning." 

"Yes, Jack," he answered, "the resurrection morn- 
ing." 

A beautiful smile lighted up his countenance, which 
reminded us all of the dawning of that bright day. 
"I see the cross," he said, "it is all clear, I know 
the way." With one more last good-bye I kissed 
his brow and turned away with a sad heart. 

On my way aft I met the second mate, who, wish- 
ing to encourage me, said, "Never mind, Jack, Tom 



2o6 Voyage of "^The Two Sisters/'' 

may live till, morning, after all." "Till morning," I 
thought, "only till morning." The words of the Lord 
came into my mind. "Because I live ye shall live 
also." "Yes," I said to myself, "this promise must 
have been in Tom's mind when he spoke of the resur- 
rection." 

I was tired and heartsick, and a little nervous. Af- 
ter reaching my berth, however, I was soon asleep. 
I was not called at four A. M. the following morn- 
ing, there was no need of it. At three bells (five- 
thirty A. M.), as I went forward to get Mr. Stover's 
coffee, I saw lying on the fore-hatch a shrouded form, 
which told its own story. 

"Ee, Jack," said the cook, Tom he go first watch, 
four bells, he know no more when ee leave 'im, but 
he lived one hour half." 

"Oh ! Cook," I said, "I shall miss him very much !" 
— then followed a flood of tears which I could not 
control. 

"Jack, Tom he like ye like de brother, he gude 
man, he be wid de Lord now, Jack, so git de mate 
him coffee quick." 

"Well, Jack," said Mr. Stover, "your old friend 
Tom has departed this life. We shall miss him, for 
we were not any too strong-handed before he was 
laid up." The mate was a hard-headed, practical 
old sailor, and of course from his point of view, he 
was correct, but I missed Tom because I loved him. 
In our haste, in this busy life of ours, we miss our 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 207 

friends and even those who are not under obliga- 
tions to ns, solely because of what they do for us, 
instead of what we can do for them. 

After coffee I helped wash decks. 

At the breakfast table, that morning, the steward 
and second mate discussed and commented concern- 
ing Tom's life and about his death. Of course, I was 
not expected to take part in the conversation, with 
the exception of asking and answering a question, 
now and then. After breakfast, I assisted Mrs. Ben- 
jamin to do some work in the after-cabin. 

"Jack," she said, "Tom spoke only a few more 
times, after you said 'good-bye' to him last night. 
The captain and I remained with him until it was 
all over. His burial will be at eight bells (noon). 
I will endeavor to sing a hymn and the steward will 
assist me. Here are two hymnals, take them for- 
ward. Sam can sing, and perhaps some others of 
the crew may help us. Tell them that we will try 
to sing the ninety-fifth hymn." I told Mrs. Benja- 
min that I would like to sit by Tom's body until 
his burial. "Go, Jack," she said, "and no one shall 
interrupt you. I will speak to the captain about it." 

"Sail ho !" came from one of the men who was 
working on the foretopsail-yard. 

"Where away," shouted the second mate. 

"Dead, ahead, sir, 'pears to be on starboard tack 
heading for us." 

The wind was fair for both of us, but very light. 
It was then six bells. We made out the stranger 
to be an American bark. 



2o8 Voyage of """The Two Sisters/' 

"She looks like a whaler," said Captain Benjamin; 
"we will be up abreast of each other by eight bells." 

"Don't know, sir," replied the second mate, we 
are making scarcely any headway just now, but the 
whaler, for a whaler she is, sure enough, seems to 
be bringing a little breeze along with her." 

I was very thankful that I was permitted to sit by 
the remains of my departed friend a little while, be- 
fore they were committed to the deep, mighty ocean. 
"Shall I ever see him again?" I thought; then I re- 
membered that it is written concerning the resurrec- 
tion morning, "And the sea gave up the dead, which 
were in it." Mrs. Benjamin came and sat with me 
a few moments saying, as she turned away, "Blessed 
are the dead, which die in the Lord." 

Tom's body lay encased in a canvas shrould, ready 
for burial, with a one hundred pound holystone, 
used for scouring the decks, attached to his feet. It 
was then eight bells, noon, and a dead calm. The 
stranger and the "Two Sisters" had drifted abeam of 
each other, within speaking distance. She proved 
to be the American whaling bark, "Philip II," on 
the lookout for whales. 

After salutations (our ensign was flying at half 
mast), the first question came to us, "What is the 
trouble? Do you need any assistance?" Captain Ben- 
jamin informed our friends that we were about to bury 
one of our men, that all the rest of the crew were 
well, and we did not need any assistance. They 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 209 

then hauled their ensign down at half mast and shont- 
ed back their answer : "We sincerely regret yonr 
loss and extend to your our heartfelt sympathy." 

Everything was now ready for the burial. The 
mainsail had been previously clewed up to prevent it 
from chafing, but as it w^as a dead calm, it was not 
necessary to lay the mainyard aback, nor to make 
any change in the sails whatever. Captain Benja- 
min notified the captain of the "Philip 11" that we 
were about to begin the services. His crew then 
lined up along the poop deck with uncovered heads. 
Captain Benjamin, the officers, Mrs. Benjamin with 
her little choir, consisting- of the steward, Sam and 
two others of the crew, stood along the break of 
the poop deck; I also stood with them. The rest 
of the crew stood by the side of the remains, which 
had been laid on a plank, which was placed athwart 
ship with the foot end in the after-larboard port-hole. 
The port was then triced up. Everything was in 
full view of our friends on board of the whaler. 
Captain Benjamin read the ninetieth Psalm, and a 
portion of the fifteenth chapter of first Corinthians, 
after which Mrs. Benjamin and her choir sang: 

"Servant of God, well done! 
Thy .!>-lorioiis warfare's past; 
The battle's fought, the race is won, 
And thou art crowned at last." 

The captain then read the burial service of the 
Episcopal church. As he read the words, "dust to 
dust, ashes to ashes," the head end of the plank on 
which the remains lav was lifted and the bodv of 



2IO Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

our shipmate was launched into the deep, and dis- 
appeared from mortal view, never to rise again un- 
til "that bright and cloudless morning when the dead 
in Christ shall rise." Just as the remains disappeared 
from view the crew of the "Philip II" sang, very 
clearly and distinctly, the hymn beginning "Jesub, 
lover of my soul." After the singing of this hymn, 
our ensigns were run up to the peak. 

"Men," said the captain, "this is the most solemn 
and impressive burial service I ever witnessed at sea. 
I trust that we will give earnest heed and become 
better by his advice, in his last words to us. 

The two ships had by this time forged apart a 
short distance from one another. After comparing 
our positions, we found that our reckoning agreed. 
A light breeze springing up, we gave each other 
three hearty cheers and were soon out of hailing dis- 
tance. We both kept our ensigns flying as long as 
they could be discerned, and as our last farewell, 
each of us dipped our colors three times. Tom was 
buried on December twenty-seventh, eighteen fifty- 
eight. We were seventy-five days out. It was a 
very remarkable day in many respects and one never 
to be forgotten by any of the ship's company. The 
like circumstances would probably never occur again 
in a lifetime at sea. The extraordinary events of the 
day were not only very solemn and impressive, but 
also full of victory and triumph. God, in his provi- 
dence, had brought the two ships together and pro- 
vided an audience, and, as it were, hushed the wind 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 211 

and the sea so that our friends might witness the 
solemn service. 

In the afternoon, at four bells, the barometer be- 
gan to fall rapidly and dark clouds suddenly appeared. 
By eight bells they were densely packed together 
and completely enveloped the ship. They seemed, in- 
deed, to press down upon us, as it were. There 
had been a light breeze during the afternoon, but 
at this time it was a dead calm. 

"Captain," said Mr. Stover, "I think we are on the 
verge of experiencing another hurricane." 

"All the indications point in that direction," an- 
swered the captain, "call all hands and shorten sail. 
As soon as the ship gets steerage-way, we will keep 
her before the wind." Everything was taken in with 
exception of the fore and maintopsail and foretop- 
maststaysail, and furled doubly secure. At four bells 
(six P. M.) we were shrouded in an inky blackness, 
the flashes of lightning serving only to make the 
darkness more intense. Absolute silence prevailed, 
except heavy thunderings away to the eastward, 
which came rolling along on the surface of the deep 
and seemed to say to us, "I am coming, I am com- 
ing." The captain and Mr. Stover having now de- 
cided that the storm would overtake us from the 
east, we succeeded in box-hauling the ship around 
with her head to the westward, after which we 
close reefed the topsails. 

Mrs. Benjamin had been standing in the compan- 
ionway for some time. The captain advised her to 
go below, saying: "Jack will take up his position 



212 Voyage of ""'The Two Sisters." 

as he did during the last hurricane and will keep in 
touch with you and inform you of what is going on 
on deck." 

In talking over the situation with Mt. Stover, he 
said: "We will take in the maintopsail and furl it 
tight. We will carry the close reefed foretopsail, un- 
til the ship gathers headway at least, and perhaps all 
through the storm." 

"We will run the risk of losing it," said Mr. Stover. 
"You are right," replied the captain, "but the storm 
will be preceded by several high waves and, if it 
is possible, we must keep out of their way." I com- 
municated all of this conversation to Mrs. Benjamin. 
In the meantime the maintopsail was taken in and 
the mizzentrysail bent, preparatory to heaving the 
ship to, if it was deemed necessary. 

We were now ready, as far as possible, for what- 
ever might come. A long swell had set in which 
was a precursor of the approaching storm. It was 
a wild and weird scene; intense darkness about us, 
lightning flashing from every quarter, the flashes 
chasing each other, seemingly, around the compass ; 
jack o'lanterns on each masthead and several of the 
yardarms, and mighty thunderings, like "the seven 
thunders" in the revelation of St. John. Peal after 
peal came crashing over us and went rolling on be- 
yond. "This is awful !" said the captain. "The sus- 
pense in waiting for the storm is more trying to our 
nerves than when it is really on." 

"Not quite so much wear and tear on the ship, 
however, sir," replied Mr. Stover. "I wish that the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 213 

skysail and royal-yards were triced up in the lower 
rigging." 

"If you think you will have time to send them 
down, go ahead," said Captain Benjamin. 

"Down skysail and royal-yards fore and aft," 
shouted the second mate. It was just the kind of 
work that I liked to take part in. I ran into the 
cabin and asked Mrs. Benjamin if she would please 
to excuse me until after the yards were sent down. 

"Go, if you can be of any service. Jack, but be 
careful," she said. 

"If you can be of any service," I thought, "well, 
I guess I can; why, I can get the skysailyard ready 
to send down by myself alone, take up a guy rope, 
lower the yard down on deck; in fact, I could do 
anything connected with the work." After thus 
boasting, within myself, of my ability to dare to do, 
to suffer if need be, as a genuine, up-to-date sailor, 
just imagine my chagrin and disappointment when 
the captain would not allow me even to go on deck. 

"You keep a good lookout for Mrs. Benjamin, 
Jack," he said. Then I consoled myself with the fact 
that I was only a boy, a small one at that and what 
would happen to the men if the storm should strike 
the ship, while they were aloft. Then again I have 
read and heard of ships getting dismasted sometimes 
in these awful storms. 

The men worked with a will and in twenty min- 
utes the yards were down and all of the gear made 
snug. Two men were at the wheel, the captain and 



214 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

Mr. Stover, and the rest of the crew were stationed 
about, the same as when we encountered the first 
hurricane. 

"I hear the storm approaching from the south- 
east, sir," said Mr. Stover. 

"Port you helm," shouted the captain. "All hands 
stand by. How do you head?" 

"Northwest, a quarter north sir," answered the 
man at the wheel. 

"Keep the ship straight before the wind and don't 
let her broach to," said the captain. "Aye, aye, 
sir," came back the answer. 

I ran into the after-cabin and found Mrs. Benja- 
min engaged in deep thought and meditation. "The 
storm is about to break upon us, the skysail and royal- 
yards are down, all right, and everything made fast. 
The captain is lashed to the forward part of the miz- 
zenmast. We are before the wind, heading northwest, 
a quarter north, a long way off our course, but there 
is no danger, ma'am," I said, all in one breath. 

Mrs. Benjamin said something about "knowing 
little, fearing little." She noticed that I had com- 
prehended her meaning, and then remarked : "Well, 
Jack, none of us know very much, but God rules, and 
He knows. We will trust in Him, Jack, and do our 
best." 

I reached my station in the companionway just as 
the storm swept down upon us. The first shock was 
not so severe as in the other hurricane, the wind 
was not so heavy, nor the waves so high, but in a 
few minutes the wind increased rapidly and became 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 215 

stronger than we had ever experienced before on the 
voyage. The "Two Sisters" was fairly leaping 
through the water, running before the gale at the rate 
of twelve knots per hour, nine or ten points at least 
off her course. 

Suddenly a sharp, splitting noise was heard above 
the roar of the storm. I listened. "There goes 
the foretopsail," shouted the mate, as he made his 
way aft to where the captain was standing. 

"All right," he said, "we are fortunate that it did 
not take the mast and the yards along with it. I 
think that the foretopmaststaysail will hold out and 
keep us going fast enough to keep out of the reach 
of the seas." The foretopsail, what was left of it, 
was clewed up, and after it moderated a little, was 
tied up. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, at ten-thirty P. M., 
"I think we had better heave to at eight bells, if it 
continues to moderate." 

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the mate. "How do you 
head?" 

"Northwest by north, sir," replied the man at the 
wheel. "The wind is veering a little to the south- 
ward all the while, sir, perhaps we will make a fair 
wind out of it yet." 

"I don't like to be scudding off of our course an}^ 
longer than it is absolutely necessary," said Captain 
Benjamin, "we will heave to on the starboard tack, 
then if the wind favors us we will take advantage of 
it. Jack," he added, "tell Mrs. Benjamin that noth- 
ing serious has happened, that everything is all right 



2i6 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/'' 

and that after the ship is hove to, at eight bells, I 
will come clown and get some rest, and after that you 
may turn in. Mr. Fletcher will want his coffee 
bright and early in the morning, but if I am not on 
deck, you need not call me for it." "Aye, aye, sir," 
I replied, as I went below. 

It was six bells. I was not at all anxious, as I 
did not have much responsibility. I could rest in a 
storm even better than in a calm. I was very tired 
because of the exciting events of the day and after 
reaching my berth, I was soon asleep. In the morn- 
ing Mr. Fletcher called me at three bells. When I 
reached the galley, I found that the cook had the 
coffee ready. 

"Ee, Jack, good mornin'," he said, "de secon' mate, 
he be on deck all night. He like big lot coffee dis 
mornin'." 

"Yes, Cook, I am sure he will like it very much. 
The captain told me not to bring him any this morn- 
ing, if he was not on deck." 

"No matters 'bout de captain, Jack, he sleeps all 
right." The cook then supplied me with an extra 
quantity of coffee, condensed milk and cookies fur 
the second mate. 

"Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, as he sat down on the 
forward break of the quarterdeck, "you just hold 
on to some of this gear while I down a little of this 
coffee." I held the dish of cookies, while he drank 
and ate and talked. "Jack, I am hungry, as well as 
tired," he said, "T have been on deck 'most all night. 
Let me see, you went below at six bells. Well, no 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 217 

one else went below until we had hove the ship to, 
at midnight, under trysail and mizzenstaysail. At 
two bells the watch went below; at four bells, the 
wind having veered to the southward, all hands were 
called out again to get the ship under way. We set 
the courses, two-reefed maintopsail, foretopmaststay- 
sail, jib and reef-spanker. We are making a fair 
wind of it this morning, you see, heading east north- 
east. The captain says that he wants to make a little 
more east longitude before heading up to the north- 
ward. We will not wash decks this morning. Jack, 
but as soon as the watch gets through with their 
coffee, we will get to work at the foretopsail and 
send it down, and at eight bells we will have another 
ready to send up in its place. You see we will have 
to be very careful in getting the old one down, as 
it is still blowing a good, strong breeze. You and 
I, Jack, will take care of the gear on deck, while the 
rest of the watch unbend the salt and get it ready 
to send down. Here comes Johnson to relieve the 
wheel, so that Wilson may get his coffee. You take 
coffee mug and cookie dish to the cook and get your 
refreshments ; by that time we will be ready. Tom 
was in my watch you know, Jack, and I miss him 
especially when there is any risky work going on. 
Poor fellow, if it was not possible for him to get 
well I am glad that he is gone." 

"Ee, Jack, said the cook, "ee like coffee and pow- 
ders (pulverized milk) in 'em?" 

"Yes, Cook, I like that kind of medicine all right." 
This delicacy was not a part of the ship's provisions, 



2i8 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

but had been provided by the captain especially for 
Mrs. Benjamin. 

At eight bells, the disabled topsail had been sent 
down and a spare one made ready to send up. Af- 
ter it was bent, it was set in full. We then shook 
the reefs out of the maintopsail and spanker and set 
the maintopmaststaysail. As I was going down to 
breakfast that morning the captain, Mr. Stover and 
the second mate were standing by the companion- 
way. They were comparing notes. 

"Yes," said the second mate, "one man short in 
my watch, sir, how about the boy. Jack? He can 
steer a good trick at the wheel now." 

"I have thought of that," said Captain Benjamin, 
"but Jack is not very heavy. Suppose we detail the 
carpenter also to do duty in your watch. Jack," he 
said, turning to me, "call the carpenter aft." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered as I ran foward. The 
carpenter's name was Thomas Murphy, but he was 
known only to the crew as 'Chips.' "Chips, the cap- 
tain wants to see you aft; we are both to be put 
into the second mate's watch." "Whew!" he said. 
I followed him aft as I now considered myself a mem- 
ber of the conference. 

"Carpenter," said the captain, "we have thought 
best that you and the boy. Jack, shall take Tom's 
place in the second mate's watch. I know that you 
did not sign articles to stand watch except in case 
of emergency." 

"Aye, aye, sir," said the carpenter, "I'm no mar- 
line-spike sailor, sewing sails and de likes of dat, sir. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 219 

I can build a ship for yees, but I am no man to do 
the rigging." 

"That's all right, Chips," said Mr. Fletcher, "you 
can hand, reef and steer and give a good, strong pull 
on the weather braces, when necessary." Mr. Stover 
had made up his mind that I was to be put in his 
watch. But I was very glad that the captain de- 
cided the matter, saying, "Jack and the carpenter, 
both of them together, will not be able to take Tom's 
place." 

"That's right, sir," said the second mate. 

Mr. Stover was not pleased, however, and inti- 
mated that the starboard watch outnumbered his. 
"Well," said the captain, "the carpenter is liable to 
be called off at any time to do some work in his 
line, besides, as I have told you before, Mrs. Benja- 
min always has the first claim on Jack, whenever 
she needs his services. The fact is, the starboard 
watch cannot depend on either the carpenter or Jack, 
at all times." 

It was not because my services were of so much 
value to either watch as to cause any controversy, 
but Mr. Stover always seemed to have a great de- 
sire to get control of me as far as possible. His pur- 
pose was frustrated at that time, but he accomplished 
his desire about a year later. By that time I had had 
much more experience and was better able to stand 
the harsh treatment which he seemed to have held 
in reserve for me. 

At the breakfast table that morning the second 
mate and steward discoursed about the storm of the 



220 Voyage of ''"The Two Sisters/"" 

previous night. "Mr. Steward," said the second 
mate, "where did you happen to be last night when 
the awful tempest struck us, which seemed some- 
times as though it would blow us out of the water, 
and at other times as though it would push us to 
the bottom?" 

"Where did I happen to be?" answered the stew- 
ard, "I was by the force of habit and natural law 
just where I ought to have been, in my berth, rest- 
ing and recuperating strength for the duties of the 
coming day. I think that we had better put into 
port somewhere and ship some more men, if you ex- 
pect the carpenter and cabin boy, cook and steward 
to be on deck in every little squall, which happens 
to come along." 

"You ought to be very thankful, my brother," 
said Mr. Fletcher, "that this day, with its duties, 
ever dawned upon us after the 'little squall' that we 
encountered last night. What do you say. Jack?" 

"It was just awful, sir, the heavy wind and high 
seas, the fearful thundering and lightning, when the 
foretopsail was carried away with a sharp bang." 

"I do hope and trust," continued the second mate, 
"that while you were resting and gathering strength 
for the coming day, you also meditated on the solemn 
events of the day that had passed, and made good 
resolutions for the future, and purposed in your 
heart to perform them." 

"Well," answered the steward, "the events of yes- 
terday were truly impressive, and they did cause me 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 221 

to meditate on my past life, and I did form new reso- 
lutions in regard to my future life and character, and 
I have purposed in my heart, by the help of Divine 
assistance, to perform them. Now, about the storm, 
I did know something of what was going on last 
night; when the foretopsail was carried away I was 
afraid that the foremast had gone with it, but when 
I found that it was only the sail, I continued to 
meditate. They tell us at home that the Chinese 
are our nearest neighbors, that we live on the same 
identical lot. I suppose this is the way we will have 
to dig down in order to visit them. I wonder how 
many more tempests, hurricanes and typhoons we 
will have to go through before meeting them face 
to face." 

When I went on deck, at eight bells, I found that 
the port watch had sent up the royal-yards and set 
the sails, also had turned the reef out of the spanker, 
set mizzentopsail, upperstaysails and flying-jib. A 
good breeze was blowing. We were on the port 
tack, heading east by north. In the afternoon the 
wind became lig'hter. I was sent up alone to cross 
the skysail yard. The second mate gave me some 
instructions before I went aloft. Among other 
things, he said : "J^ck, be careful and don't get a 
turn around either yard-arm with the lifts or braces. 
Find out for sure the top and after-part of the yard 
before you hook them on." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered as I ran up the weather 
main-rigging. 



222 Voyage of "^The Two Sisters." 

Mrs. Benjamin was standing and watching in the 
companionway. I knew that I was under inspection, 
I therefore put forth my best efforts. As I went 
aloft, I thought, "there is not any danger of getting 
any turns in the gear because it is all single." As 
I took up my position on the royal-yard, the skysail- 
yard soon followed me. It was sent up to the lee- 
ward and by the time I had gotten the weather brace 
and topping-lift ready, it was at hand. All of the 
gear was fitted with small sister hooks, except the 
buntlines. They were made fast with a clinch, that 
is, take the end and reeve it through the eyelet holes 
on the foot of the sail then pass it around the stand- 
ing part and underneath the bight and stop it se- 
curely with rope yarn. The mainskysail buntlines 
had only one hauling part on deck, but aloft they 
were fitted with two legs, one on either side of the 
sail. The hooks were easily adjusted, but it took 
a little time to put a mousing upon each one 
of them. When I had hooked the weather brace and 
lift, on the upper end of the yard, I cast the stop off 
the halyards. The yard was then hoisted to the mast- 
head so that I could reach the lower end of it to 
hook on the lee brace and lift. I then let go the 
guy rope and the yard swung square. It was lowered 
into its place and I made it fast to the mast with a 
leather strap. After hooking on the sheets and clew- 
lines and bending on the buntlines I loosed the sail 
and shouted out with all my might, "Sheethome, main- 
skysail, sir." As I made up the gaskets I looked 
and saw that everything was all right, and then came 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 223 

down on deck congratulating myself on my achieve- 
ment. I was very thirsty. My allowance of drinking 
water, however, had been quite sufficient since Tom's 
death. As I passed into the cabin to get a drink, 
Mrs. Benjamin said, "J^^k, you did well aloft, you 
did well." 

"Thank you, ma'am, I thought I could do it, all 
right." 

One pleasant evening, several days after the events 
mentioned above and during the last dog watch, we 
had the most beautiful sunset scene that I had ever 
beheld, either on land or sea. White fleecy clouds 
hovered about, their lower edges fringed with gold 
and crimson. The sky seemed like a canopy of gold; 
the sea looked like transparent glass; the sun seemed 
to linger a moment or two on the horizon and then 
disappeared suddenly, sending up shafts of bright 
color that spread out in phantastic shapes. As all of 
this splendor was fading away, her majesty, the 
moon, asserted her supremacy as queen of the night. 
The ocean was like unto a jasper sea, a vast court 
paved with silver; the beautiful shafts of many colors 
and the golden heavens were turned, as it were, into 
a vast magnificent curtain, woven with "silver puri- 
fied seven times" and studded with precious stones, 
spread out from the zenith to the horizon and blend- 
ing into the silver-paved court of the ocean. The sea 
was hushed -into a quiet stillness, with the exception 
of a long ocean swell, which did not apparently 
disturb its surface. What a contrast between this 
night and that of a few days ago ! Then, in the midst 



224 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

of the hurricane, the fearful thunder, in peal after 
peal, the almost continuous flashes of lightning, the 
awful blackness of night, the dangerous high seas 
and the tremendous wind. The storm was awful in 
its grandeur, freighted with danger and destruction 
as it swept on. God's power was manifested sublime- 
ly and majestically. 

"God moves in a mysterious way, 
His wonders to perform, 
He plants His footsteps in the sea 
And rides upon the storm." 

Then, lo ! in the midst of the storm He speaks, 
"Peace, be still," and His command is obeyed; im- 
mediately the elements are hushed into silence and 
nature becomes serene and beautiful. So may we 
hear Him say to us, when we are in the midst of 
trouble and sorrow, "It is I, be not afraid." 

The ship was slipping quietly through the water 
at the rate of six knots, a few silvery notes could be 
heard playing around her bow. There was just 
enough wind to keep the sails full, everything was 
steady aloft. With the exception of the creaking of 
a yard or block, now and then, not a sound could 
be heard. We were on the wind, braced sharp up 
on the port tack. The second mate was walking 
leisurely back and forth on the weather poop deck. 
"How do you head?" he called out. "East southeast, 
sir," came the answer from the man at the wheel. 

Mr. Stover was below. The captain and Mrs. Ben- 
jamin were seated on the quarter deck talking about 
the voyage, the beautiful sunset and the evening 
scene. The steward and cook were busy finishing 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 225 

their work for the clay. Several of the crew were 
on the topgallantforecastle, the rest of them Were on 
the main deck, sitting on bits and spars, spinning 
yarns or talking about home and loved ones. I was 
seated on the forebits, which were just forward of 
the foremast, in company with Wilson, a native of 
Finland, who suddenly exclaimed : "The sea, the 
sea, the high, the mighty, abounding sea, and a 
mother she is to me, for I was born on the open, high 
sea." 

"Hello, Wilson, you are having an attack of poetry- 
ism. It sounds all right, I'm holding a good turn, 
heave ahead on another verse," said one of the men. 

"It is not all poetry with me, but the genuine ar- 
ticle itself, 'for I was born on the open, high sea.' 
Belay that now and I will tell you about it. It hap- 
pened thi-s way : My father must have been a bright 
fellow and a good sailor, for at the age of twenty- 
eight he had command of a Norwegian ship, called 
the 'Viking.' He was on a voyage from Cardiff, 
AVales, to Valparaiso. His bride, of little less than a 
year, accompanied him. I was born on the equator, 
in the Atlantic ocean, 27 degrees 20 minutes west 
longitude the twentieth of February, 1828. This I have 
read a score of times in the ship's log book, that I 
have preserved at Stockholm, Sweden, the place that 
I call my home. The log states that the crew and 
old Neptune had a high time on board the 'Viking' 
that day. I was granted a free pass for life over all 
the trackless oceans, and I have availed myself of 
the privilege, if it can be considered a privilege, 



226 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

for I have never done a day's work on shore. Well, 
my mother continued sailing with my father in the 
'Viking' until I was five years old, and until that 
fatal voyage, the awful days of which have never 
faded from my memory. We were on the way from 
Cardiff to Callao, S. A., loaded with coal. Everything 
went well until we were in about the latitude of 
'Rio.' The only home I had ever known was on 
board the ship with my father and mother, and I was 
as happy in the cabins of the 'Viking,' or playing 
on her decks among the crew, as any child on shore. 
Then it was discovered that the cargo was on fire. 
Everything possible was done to smother and sub- 
due the fire. My father, his officers and the crew 
congratulated each other that their efforts had proved 
successful, and the fire had been extinguished, but, 
alas, when the ship had gotten well down in the for- 
ties the fire broke out again in all its fury. In forty- 
eight hours the hold was a seething furnace. A 
council was held and it was decided to abandon the 
ship. Accordingly, the three boats were provisioned 
and got overboard. The captain, mate and second 
mate, each had charge of one. We numbered twenty- 
nine souls. It was at five bells and was quite moderate 
and clear. We all succeeded in getting clear of the 
ship safely, and when we had pulled away a short 
distance a tremendous explosion took place, the 
hatches and a portion of the deck were blown up in 
the air and in a few moments the ship was ablaze 
from truck to waterline. I will remember the scene, 
how bright it was all around and the expression of 
anxiety and fear pictured on the faces of my -father 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 227 

and the boat's crew. I can never forget my mother's 
countenance, as she held me tightly in her arms that 
night." 

"The 'Viking' continued to burn until midnight and 
then went down. The three boats kept in touch with 
each other in the vicinity until eight bells the following 
morning, hoping that the burning of the ship, which 
could have been seen probably for fifty miles or more in 
every direction, might bring assistance. None appeared 
and so we separated for the day to make three chances to 
one of attracting the notice of some passing ship. Be- 
ing unsuccessful, we picked each otiier up again, before 
dark. During the night, rockets were sent up now and 
then; the next morning the boats separated once more, 
but that day a storm came up and we never sighted 
either of the two boats again. My father saved his pri- 
vate log book from the wreck, which told all about the 
voyage, the fire, getting away from the ship, the awful 
suffering of those eighteen days and nights in an open 
boat in the dead of winter, the storm, the cold and the 
hunger, and the dropping out of each of the men as they 
became exhausted. Some of them became insane and 
leaped into the* sea. A complete record was kept by my 
father up to the eighteenth night ; a few more incoherent 
entries were made in the log during- the night and on the 
following morning. There were such words as, 'my 
wife,' 'my boy,' 'cold,' 'starving,' 'sail ho,' 'where away,' 
etc., and other writing which could not be deciphered, 
showing that the brain had lost its power of thought, and 
the hand its cunning. The last intelligible entry was 
made in the book on the twentieth of February, 1833, ^t 
six P. M. My father recorded the fact that it was the 



228 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters." 

boy's birthday, 'but what a day,' he added; 'all the boat's 
crew have succumbed except wife, child and myself. I 
fear that my wife cannot live through the night. The 
boy will not survive long after his mother unless some 
help comes soon. We have one more rocket left, which 
I will send up at midnight. It will be my last effort. I am 
fearful that my mind is giving way.' It appears as though 
my mother and father then offered together a prayer to 
iVlmighty God, for he writes, 'Oh, God, though thou slay 
me, yet will I trust Thee; even so. Father, if it seemeth 
good in Th)' sight.' After this writing my mother wrote 
my name under her own signature, and my father's name 
was also affixed. My mother must have become ex- 
hausted some time during the night, as I remember faint- 
ly about falling out of her arms into the bottom of the 
boat, and becoming very cold. We were picked up on 
the following morning by Her Majesty's frigate, 'High 
Flyer.' They had observed the last signal. My father 
and mother were alive when we were rescued, but they 
could not be revived, though the surgeon of the ship and 
his assistants did their best, and at ten A. M. on that 
day, I was an orphan. The first mate's boat was picked 
up a few hours later, he being the only survivor in it. 
They searched for the second mate's boat several days, 
but did not find it, and it was never picked up by any 
ship." 

"I have no record of the immediate events which fol- 
lowed. I remember some things about the burial services, 
how that the ship was hove to with the main topsail to 
the mast; about some one reading a long time and the 
ship's company responding now and then, 'Amen.' They 
did not permit me to see my father and mother launched 
into the sea, but I realized that they were gone, and, oh. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 229 

how much I missed them. I remember that everybody 
was very kind to me on board the frigate, and that some 
one kissed me, again and again. I was kept warm, but 
not allowed to eat very much at a time. It was several 
days before I could be comforted. After about four days, 
the chief mate of the 'Viking,' Mr. Hanson, who had 
sailed with my father for several years and whom I had 
known all of my life, had recovered sufficiently to take 
care of me. In his company, I was somewhat comforted." 

By the time that Wilson had gotten as far along in 
the sad story of his early life as his birth at sea on board 
the 'Viking,' the cook and the men of both watches, ex- 
cepting Oleson, who was at the wheel, and Johnson, on 
the lookout, were seated and listening with great interest. 
Wilson hesitated a moment, at the point where he be- 
came partly reconciled, under the care of the chief mate, 
Mr. Hanson. He was then interrogated by all hands, 
at the same time. " 'Ow did you hever git 'ome?" in- 
quired Sam. "Veil, vare is dine home, and vat dine 
country?" interrupted another. Then Chips exclaimed, 
"Sure, and how long did the mate, Hanson, takes care 
of yees?" The cook remarked', sympathetically, "Him 
poor baby boy 'board de great warship, no fader tells him 
stories, no moder sings him to de sleep. Him de much 
'fraid." I ventured to ask who it was that showered him 
with kisses. 

"Avast, there, ship mates," exclaimed Wilson. "You 
see I have got a good round turn on my story, just let 
me hold on until the end and I reckon we'll pull through 
all right. Let me see, I said that under Mr. Hanson's 
care I became more contented. Well, in due time the 'High 
Flyer put into Rio for orders, to get her coal bunkers 



230 .Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

refilled and for fresh provisions. Mr. Hanson and I were 
delivered over to the Norwegian consul. It happened that 
the 'High Flyer' was ordered home. The consul ap- 
pointed Mr. Hanson as my guardian for the time being 
and ordered him to deliver me over to the former owners 
of the 'Viking/ in Christiania, Norway. As there were 
no merchantmen bound north from that port at that 
time, we were, through the courtesy of the British consul, 
permitted to take passage on board the 'High Flyer.' " 

"We were on shore in Rio about one week. All that 
I remember about it is that there was a lady who was 
very kind to me. She dressed me up in nice clothes, took 
me out riding and I saw many beautiful things. The 
lady was the wife of the Norwegian consul. I met her 
again when I was twelve years of age, while she was on 
a visit to her home. Having a desire to know what be- 
came of me, she searched me out. My friends in Stock- 
holm were in a position at that time to entertain her with 
some distinction. It is needless for me to say that the 
meeting was a pleasant one." 

"After the 'High Flyer' had received her coal and pro- 
visions we put out to sea. All I know about the voyage 
home is what Mr. Hanson told me some years after. He 
said that the consul's wife fitted me out like a prince ; that 
I became familiar with the officers and their quarters, and 
seemed quite happy. It was the first lieutenant who 
braced me up with kisses, when I was rescued. You see 
he had lately lost a little boy about my age. He wanted 
to adopt me, but the consul would not give him permis- 
sion. Twice during the voyage they had target practice, 
using their big guns. Each time I became frightened and 
cried for my father and mother. I did not get used to 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 231 

their great guns, but the small arms attracted and pleased 
me, as they were brightly polished and never made any 
noise. After thirty-eight days we arrived at Portsmouth, 
England, rather a long passage for a ship of the 'High 
Flyers' class, but men-of-war are not much in a hurry 
in time of peace. Mr. Hanson and I then proceeded to 
Christiania, where he reported and delivered me to the 
owners of the 'Viking.' All that was left of that ship, 
the log book, was written up to date, telling the whole 
story. I had access to it once, after I was grown, and T 
have never cared to see it since. Mr. Hanson took me to 
Stockholm, Sweden, and delivered me to my mother's 
sister. After this he took charge of one of the company's 
ships that was engaged in the East India trade. He died 
about thirteen years ago, in the South Atlantic, while on 
a voyage out, and was buried at sea in the same locality 
where the 'Viking' was burned, twelve years before. I 
met him several times before his death. My parents had 
laid by enough money to provide for me until I had 
passed through college." 

"I lived with my aunt until I was eighteen. I had re- 
ceived a fair education and was prepared for college. I 
had no inclination, however, for a college career. No 
doubt I had inherited a roving disposition. By this time 
I had become discontented and, I fear, somewhat wild and 
unmanageable; and instead of subjecting my wishes to 
those of my friends, as I should have done, and receiving 
a college training, I chose a sea-faring life, of which I 
have often repented. Now, shipmates, you have heard 
the story of my life's history. I thank you all for the in- 
terest you have manifested." 



232 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

"Faith, it's yoursilf that's to be thenkecl for intertaiiiin' 
us," said Chips. 

"Chips, we would hke to 'ear the 'istry of your hown 
hfe, hold boy." 

"Sure," answered Chips, "I'll be plaized to spake of 
it, when yees has the taim to hear me." 

Eight bells had come and with it the order, "All hands 
tack ship, tacks and sheets out of their beckets, clew up 
the mainsail." Our little entertainment ended abruptly, 
and the audience hurried to their stations, the second 
mate's crew to the forecastledeck, the cook to the fore- 
sheet and the rest of them aft. I always handled the 
royal and skysail braces. Everything was now ready. 
"Hard a-lee," shouted the captain from the quarter deck. 
The "Two Sisters" came up into the wind like a pilot 
boat, then came the order, "Maintopsail haul," then in 
a moment or two after the mainyards had swung 
round and were braced up. "Fore bowlin', let go and 
haul." After the ship had got around on the starboard 
tack, the weather braces were taughtened up. We then 
boarded the main tack and the order was given, "Re- 
lieve the wheel and go below, the watch." This last 
order was very welcome to me, as it was my eight 
hours in." 

When I came on deck at midnight Mr. Fletcher said: 
"Jack, the 'Two Sisters' is a little too lively for you to 
take your trick at the wheel this watch. I am afraid 
that she would run away with you." 

"I think, sir, that I can hold her all right." 

"You are not heavy enough. Jack, and that settles it." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 233 

"I am quite sure that I can," I said to myself, "but 
never mind. I will have a chance to furl the mainskysail 
before long." 

Mr. Fletcher had about all he could attend to. After 
four bells, however, though a good, strong breeze was 
blowing and the wind had proved to be quite steady, 1 
ventured to engage in conversation with him. I inquired, 
"Do you know, sir, about where the ship was when we 
tacked last evening?" 

"Yes, Jack, I heard the captain and mate talking- it all 
over before I went below. They decided that Amster- 
dam Island bore due south of us, distance of forty miles. 
We are steering now, northeast by north, probably head- 
ing for Achen Head, the northwestern point of the 
island of Sumatra. When we round the point of this 
island we will be in the Strait of Malacca." 

"We will have a good many miles to make, sir," 1 
said, "before reaching- that point." 

"That's right, Jack, but let's reckon up. We will have 
to make 25 degrees 40 minutes miles of latitude and 28 
degrees 24 minutes of longitude, but our course will be 
a diagonal one and will shorten the distance considerably. 
Jack, I suppose that you have heard the old saying, 'the 
longest way round is the nearest way home,' well, it is 
true in many cases, but it is not true in this one. We 
were making thirteen knots when we threw the log at four 
bells and I think that we are doing even better than that 
at present. This wind may be the beginning of the south- 
east trades, which will run us up into the northwest mon- 
soons, a few degrees south of the equator. We will, no 
doubt, run out of this strong breeze by noon, but the wind 
will continue to be fair." 



234 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"Perhaps we may see some cannibals on our way- 
through the Strait of Malacca, sir," I said. 

"We will pass close by several islands in that locality, 
Jack, probably some of those islanders would like to make 
a dinner of us, but you needn't be worried about it, be- 
fore they can feast on us they will have to catch us. 
Hello!" exclaimed Mr. Fletcher, as the 'Two Sisters' 
heeled over a little more than usual because of the pres- 
sure of the increasing breeze. "Clew up the mainskysail," 
he called out. As soon as the order was given I ran for 
the main rigging, and by the time the sail was taken in 
and the yard trimmed in a little, I was there. A.fter I 
had the bunt of the sail gathered in and made fast, the 
rest of it was easily furled. I then slipped down and was 
soon on deck. 

It was then eight bells. The log was thrown, and it 
showed that we were making thirteen and one-half knots. 
The Captain and Mr. Stover came on deck, and after con- 
sulting with the second mate, they decided to let every- 
thing stand as it was. 

"Keep a good lookout, Mr. Stover," said the captain. 
"If the wind increases take in the royals, upperstaysails 
and topgallantstuddingsails. If we could only hold this 
breeze four or five days," he added, "it would take us 
into the northwest monsoons, which prevail during this 
season of the year." 

"I think probably, sir," answered the mate, "we will 
meet them somewhere from 8 degrees to lo degrees south 
of the equator." 

The above conversation, coupled with what the second 
mate had told me, made me think that I knew about all 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 235 

there was to know in regard to the ship's position. I then 
went below and turned in. 

"One hundred and seven days out, Mr. Stover," said 
the captain, "and w^e are in latitude nowhere, so far as 
figures are concerned, that is, we are exactly on the 
equator, 90 degrees 40 minutes east longitude." 

"My latitude tallies with 3^ours all right, sir," said Mr. 
wStover, "but in longitude I am 4 minutes to the eastward." 

"Well, there is not enough difference in our reckoning 
for us to quarrel about," said Captain Benjamin. "I- 
think we have done very well the last twelve days." 

"Extraordinary, sir," answered the mate. "I have been 
over this route several times, but I never was in a ship 
that made better time from forty miles to the northward 
of Amsterdam Island to our present position. The north- 
west monsoons seem to have overlapped their boundaries 
a little. They may run us up a hundred miles to the 
northeast, sir, before they die out to the westward." 

"I only hope that they may," said the captain. "It will 
be a miracle if we carry a breeze through the calm belt 
on both sides of the equator." 

"The trade winds and monsoons in these latitudes take 
the privilege, occasionally, of wandering outside the 
boundary line laid down for them on the charts and re- 
corded in books," replied the mate. 

"Yes," said the captain, "there are exceptions to all 
rules and especially those pertaining to the winds and 
currents in the tropics." "How do you head, Jack?" 

"Northeast by north, half north." 

"Keep her a good full and nothing to the windward." 



236 Voyage of '"'The Two Sisters/" 

"Keep her a good full and nothing to the windward, 
sir," I answered. Captain Benjamin and the mate then 
went to dinner. We were on the port tack, the wind 
was still fresh, and we were making ten knots. I was 
always glad to be at the wheel while the captain and mate 
were taking observations at noontime, for I generally 
found out then something about the locality of the ship. 

At eight bells, that evening, as it was my watch on 
deck, I had a little conversation with the cook. "Cook, 
I didn't hear anything about old Neptune when we 
crossed the line today. 

"Ee, Jack, ee lives in de Atlantic. All of de big ships 
he comes, he goes through de Atlantic." 

"Then old Neptune never bothers his head about this 
part of the world ?" I said. 

"Ee, Jack, he no like um, here." 

"Cook, the second mate told me that we might see 
some cannibals before we get through the Strait of 
Malacca." 

"Maybees, Jack, if de wind be gone de native he comes 
'longside, he hab banana, cocoanut, he sells 'em fur tobac- 
cer, nives, clo'se, he like 'im ax, saw, he no takes money. 
Sometime he takes him hull ship, he git him good chance." 

"If they could capture this ship, what would they do 
with us?" 

"Ee, Jack, they eat us." 

"Great Scot ! Cook, I hope that we will not get becalmed 
in the vicinity of any of those islands." 

"If we hab just leetle breeze he no bother us, Jack." 
When we were in latitude about 20 degrees south, 
we began to send down our best sails and replace them 



A Cabin BoY^s Story. 237 

with second-hand ones. Our best sails needed to be over- 
hauled and made ready for future use. We never bent 
a new sail unless it was absolutely necessary. 

I had, by this time, become quite proficient in making 
knots and splices, also different kinds of bends and 
hitches, and mats, and knew how to "worm," "par- 
cel" and "serve" a rope. In fact, if I had been old enough, 
I could have passed for an ordinary seaman. 

We harpooned another porpoise and caught a dolphin 
and a bonita with a hook and line; we also caught a 
very large shark. After it was hoisted on deck, and sub- 
dued, it was dissected, and the backbone, teeth and a 
portion of the skin were preserved. It measured nine 
feet and ten inches, and was very heavy and powerful. 
It had eight rows of teeth, which proved it to be eight 
years old. It was of the species known by the sailors as 
"man eater." As we had been feasting so lately on 
dolphin, bonita and porpoise flesh, we did not retaliate 
by eating the "man eater." 

At the breakfast table, on the following morning, the 
second mate said to the steward, "You had better get our 
muskets and pistols ready. We may enter the Strait of 
Malacca this afternoon, and if the wind dies out tonight, 
we may need them before morning." 

"Mr. Fletcher," said the steward. "I presume, sir, what 
you mean is, that we should prepare for war in time of 
peace, and I perfectly agree with you, but I have several 
objections to j^our suggestion. First : You are too in- 
definite in your calculations to inspire anyone with much 
enthusiasm or confidence in you as a commanding offi- 
cer, for you admit of a 'maybe' and an 'if and a 'might 
be.' That does not sound very warlike, to say the least. 



238 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

Second: I am not the ship's gunner and have nothing- 
whatever to do with the ordnance department; and if 
there is any fighting to be done, please remember, sir, 
that I belong exclusively to the commissary department." 

"All right," replied the second mate, "I have no doubt 
that those fellows could make use of you, as their sup- 
plies are generally short, but I reckon everyone of us 
would fight to a finish before we would surrender our- 
selves to be barbecued." 

"You are right, sir, without controversy or jesting. 
Such things have happened and may occur again," said 
the steward, "but if I can get hold of a good pair of 
pistols and a short sword, I tell you, sir, before they can 
have a pow-wow over my body, they will have to pay 
dearly for it." 

I was glad that Mrs. Benjamin came in at this time 
and interrupted the conversation. One can feel quite 
brave in reading or hearing about such things occurring 
a long way off, but to be within a few hours and miles 
of the time and very place where they sometimes actually 
happen made me, I confess, quite nervous. 

"Good morning, ma'am. Jack and I are at your serv- 
ice," said Mr. Fletcher. 

"Good morning, sir," answered Mrs. Benjamin. "I 
would like Jack to help me this watch, if you please, we 
will do a little washing and cleaning up, as we may have 
a friendly call from the chieftain of some island, this 
afternoon or tomorrow morning." I was always pleased 
to help Mrs. Benjamin, for she never failed to encourage 
and instruct me on such occasions. We had not been on 
allowance of water since we ran into the northwest mon- 
soons, and our tanks were now full. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 239 

At four bells, Mrs. Benjamin and I had quite a good- 
sized washing hung out. "Now, Jack," she said, "we 
will clean my room. You can imagine yourself at home 
assisting your mother in cleaning house. In the first 
place, take out the mattresses, pillows, etc., and spread 
them on the weather side of the quarter deck. The cap- 
tain says that we can take charge of that portion of the 
ship for a while." 

I had taken in all the washing when the second mate 
called out, "Land, ho!" 

"Where away?" shouted the captain. 

"Two points on the starboard bow, sir," came the an- 
swer from aloft. By this time Mrs. Benjamin was on 
the forecastledeck with her spy-glass. She could get a 
better view from that position, as we were braced sharp 
up on the port tack. 

Mr. Stover had just made his appearance on the quarter 
deck with his quadrant, as it was near eight bells. 

"Achen Head, sir," he said. 

"Somewhere in that vicinity," replied the captain. In 
the meantime Mr. Fletcher had taken Mrs. Benjamin's 
glass aloft to investigate. He now reported. The point 
first discovered, he said, was quite prominent. He could 
see the outline of land extending a short distance to the 
southeast of it, but nothing could be seen to the windward. 

"Achen Head, sure enough," ejaculated Captain Ben- 
jamin. It was now noon. After getting their observa- 
tions and locating their position on the chart, the captain 
and Mr. Stover decided that their reckoning was correct 
and that Achen Head bore north-northeast, distance 
nineteen miles. The wind was getting very light, but 



240 Voyage of """^The Two Sisters/'' 

veering a little to the westward. We had checked in the 
weather braces and were now running about a point free, 
making five knots. 

"We ought to get around well into the Strait before 
dark, sir," said the mate, "if the wind does not fail us 
altogether." 

"I hope so," replied the captain, "there are a number 
of small islands in that locality, but we will have the 
moon to favor us, after midnight. This wind will die 
out by sundown. My calculations are that when we get 
around into the strait, the northeast monsoons, which are 
due about this season of the year, will assert themselves. 
They have not yet been manifest because the northwest- 
erly m.onsoons have been too strong for them to maintain 
their right of way." 

At four bells that evening we had entered the Strait 
and were almost surrounded by islands. The air was 
freighted with sweet smelling odors of spices, tropical 
flowers and plants. The little wind that we had was 
variable. It was almost a calm and very quiet. We had 
not seen any natives or canoes up to this time, but we 
could see several fires scattered here and there on the 
different islands. 

"It is too warm for a fire," said Mr. Stover. The cap- 
tain suggested that they were built for signals. The 
steward intimated that the natives were feasting on some 
of their prisoners. The cook agreed with the captain, 
for he said, "Dey talks 'bout de ships comin'. Jack." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 241 



Chapter XL 

iFcom tf)e strait of Slpalacca to ^i^anfffiat Cliina. 

The following morninar was the Sabbath. We wit- 



^& 



nessed a very beautiful sunrise scene, ''Silently as the 
springtime weaves her verdure green." The king of day 
heralded his coming by spreading out before and above 
him a gorgeous canopy of gold and blue. Gray clouds, 
tinged with yellow and pink, their lower edges fringed 
with scarlet crimson, were hovering about, making their 
obeisance, with uncovered heads, as his majesty made his 
appearance over the hill of the island to the east of us. 
A magnificent panorama of tropical landscape, was spread 
out before us. No tall factories with their smoking- chim- 
neys and escaping steam could be seen ; no hum and buzz 
of human activity of any kind could be heard. In fact, 
there was nothing visible to denote the ingenuity and 
cunning work of man or to mar the beauty of nature's 
scenery. 

It was a dead calm ; the ship was standing comparative- 
ly motionless, the current, however, was setting us to the 
southeast. Our route now lay through the Strait of Ma- 
lacca, in a southeasterly direction, and from thence 
around the Malay Peninsula, up into the China Sea to 
the westward of the Philippine Islands. 

By four bells we were directly abreast of a small island 
which was about three miles distant. Natives could be 
seen on the shore running to and fro, as though they 
were excited and intent on some enterprise. Soon a 



242 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

canoe put out from the shore and headed for us. When 
it was within a mile of the ship, the captain and Mr. 
Stover inspected it closely with the aid of their glasses. 

"Trading expedition, sir," said the mate. 

"I can't discern anything in their boat that looks like 
a spear, bow or club," replied the captain. "We will get 
out our jewelry, tobacco, and old clothes instead of our 
muskets. They are not on a foraging expedition this 
time. In fact, I never heard of a case of these fellows at- 
tacking a ship during the daytime. Steward, you may get 
a half dozen thin shirts and overalls out of the slop chest. 
They will be worth a dozen cocoanuts, a bunch of ba- 
nanas and some pineapples." 

At length the canoe came alongside, and there was 
a great deal of pow-wowing on the part of its eight occu- 
pants. We threw them a line which they seemed to con- 
sider an insult, at first, but as the ship suddenly forged 
ahead they were glad enough to get hold of it. Then 
they tried to explain their mistake, and that it was the 
proper thing for us to do. As we hung the gangway lad- 
der over the side, we made them understand that only 
two of them would be allowed to come on board at a time. 
Their king was the first to ascend. He was a big fellow, 
tall and straight as an arrow, of fairly good physique, ap- 
parently forty years of age. He was arrayed in full dress 
uniform, consisting of an old stove-pipe hat, a dilapidated 
frock coat and a pair of overalls, altogether too short for 
him. He would not condescend to notice or converse 
with any of the officers or crew, except to make us under- 
stand that he was the king, and wished to talk with the 
captain. The captain received his royal majesty with all 
due honors. Our ensign was run up to the peak and as 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 243 

it unfolded he exclaimed, "A Melican, a Melican," which 
proved that he recognized our nationality. M|rs Benja- 
min was introduced to him and shook hands with him. 
He made a very graceful bow. He appeared to be well 
pleased with his reception. 

His vocabulary was limited to about a dozen words 
with the following pronunciation: "Capi," "tobacci," 
"knifee," "sawee," "gunnee," "rummie," etc. We made 
him understand that we did not deal in guns or rum. He 
appeared to be disappointed, but when the steward 
brought out the shirts and overalls, some tobacco, a brand 
new knife with its sheath and belt, he seemed delighted. 
The captain exchanged these for two dozen cocoanuts, 
two large bunches of plantains and half a dozen pine 
apples. We also dickered with him for two hundred 
pounds of yams, in exchange for an old axe and saw 
which the carpenter had sharpened up for the occasion. 
During this time, all of their party came on deck alter- 
nately, except one, who, when attempting to take his turn 
was prevented and severely chastised with a paddle by 
one who appeared to be second in command. We noticed 
the occurrence, but did not think it of much importance. 
The cook said, "Dey no let de slave come on board 
de ship, he like 'im get away." 

The crew had by this time made several bargains, ex- 
changing small trinkets, old clothes, etc., for plantains, 
nuts and a few dates. The cook carried on quite an ex- 
tensive trade, using empty bottles, clay pipes and some 
musty cornmeal for capital. It was now four P. M. and 
as the bells were struck, first on the quarterdeck and then 
forward. His Majesty, the king, seemed a little uneasy, 
thinking perhaps, M^e were ringing- up some unseen enemy. 



244 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/" 

The captain showed him his watch and tried to explain 
how we measured time, but he only shook his head and 
pointed to the sun as his time piece. He then ordered his 
men to prepare for leaving the ship with a whoop, or 
rather a yell, which, for a moment, frightened Mrs. Ben- 
jamin and myself. The captain gave him a small note 
book, containing the name of the ship and officers and a 
few extracts from the log for him to present to the cap- 
tain of the next ship he boarded. The king did not ap- 
pear to care for the book or know what to do with it. 
The captain slipped it into the side pocket of His Majes- 
ty's dress coat. He seemed surprised that the pocket was 
intended for any use, save to be looked at. He knew 
what the book meant, but there was a reason why he did 
not care for it, as the sequel will show. 

Mrs. Benjamin gave him a small hand mirror, which 
pleased him exceedingly, also a copy of the New Testa- 
ment, in Holland Dutch, hoping that some day, by some 
means, the book would speak to him of its divine Author. 
We showed him several muskets and revolvers and ex- 
plained the fact that we had two of them for each man on 
board. The captain, wishing to make a deeper impression 
upon him and make a more practical demonstration of our 
defence took his own special rifle and taking aim, fired 
and broke a bottle which had previously been hung up 
under the weathermainyardarm for the occasion. 

The visitor was much interested in the rifle and tried 
to make a bargain for it. He even offered one of his men, 
the one they would not allow to come on board. He was 
a prisoner and they made a slave of him. But as we were 
not in the slave trade the king did not get the rifle. He 
was, no doubt, much disappointed, but he assumed a 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 245 

haughty and dig-nified appearance, as though he did not 
care much about it, after all. As they took their departure 
there was something in their actions, especially those of 
the king, that displeased the captain and officers. 

"He is a tricky savage," said the mate. 

"That's the fact," replied Mr. Fletcher, "he watched 
our every motion like a cat playing with a mouse." 

"We will keep a good lookout tonight," remarked the 
capjtain. "About one hundred of those fellows may take 
a notion to call on us before morning." 

It was still calm, we had not made any headway since 
the natives came alongside. The captain, Mrs. Benjamin 
and the mate watched them some time after they reached 
the shore, where a few natives only met them. No other 
canoe was in sight. While they were on board the cook 
observed them more closely than the rest of us. 

"Jack," he said, "dey watch all 'bout, dey look on de 
port side of de center house and on de starboard side. 
Dey look 'im on de forecastle and look 'im under de fore- 
castle. He sees no big guns, makes him glad. Ee tells 
de captain. Jack," he added. 

At the supper table, Mr. Fletcher said; "Well, steward, 
what did you think of our visitors this afternoon?" 

"I did not think well of them then, and I think less of 
them now. They were wicked-looking specimens of hu- 
manity, and here we are in a dead calm right under their 
clubs, as it were." 

"We don't care so much about their clubs," replied 
the second mate, "but they can send an arrow and throw 
a spear with more deadly effect than some of us can 



246 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/'' 

shoot. You are a little more interested in the ship's arma- 
ment, Mr. Steward, than you were a few days ago, I pre- 
sume." 

"I reckon I am," he said. 'T am sorry that the 
captain did not exchange the rifle for that slave. I don't 
believe he knew that he was really a prisoner. I would 
not have noticed it if the cook had not called my atten- 
tion to the fact. Poor fellow, I hope that he will have 
a chance to get away. I suppose the captain thought 
that if they secured the rifle, they might use it against us, 
besides, it is the best gun we have on board." 

After supper I told Mrs. Benjamin what the cook had 
said about the natives looking around decks and seeming 
pleased in finding no big guns. "He told me, ma'am, to 
tell the captain." 

"All right. Jack, I will tell him about it," she said, "but 
you need not be afraid, we will soon get a breeze which 
will put us out of their reach." 

Captain Benjamin and the mate were keeping a good 
lookout, and just at sundown they discovered, with their 
glasses, several large canoes in the distance, lying directly 
in the path of our course, 

"All hands on deck, get ready for an attack," shouted 
the mate. I ran aft as I thought I would be safer near 
the captain. 

"Jack," he said, "look out for Mrs. Benjamin." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered, and started for the cabin. 
I met her coming on deck. "They are a long way off, yet, 
ma'am, and if we get a little wind we will give them the 
slip. There is a little breath aloft now, and we are under 
steerage way." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 247 

Everything possible was being done to receive the 
pirates as they deserved ; all our firearms were tested and 
loaded with ball cartridges. Each man was armed with 
two muskets, one revolver, several hand-grenades and a 
short sword. It was now dark. We had three men on 
the lookout, one aloft with a glass and one on either side 
of the bow. While testing our guns we took a couple of 
flour barrels, knocked out the bottoms and placed them on 
the rail and discharged several of our pieces in them at 
the same time, which made a loud report, that rolled along 
on the surface of the water for a considerable distance. 
We hoped by this demonstration to make some impression 
on the pirates, making it appear to them that we had 
big guns on board. W^e also sent up a couple of rockets 
thinking that we might attract the attention of some war- 
ship which might be hovering around in the strait, search- 
ing for pirates. 

The men were mustered on the poop deck, cook, stew- 
ard, and officers, all excepting the lookout, to receive their 
final orders. The captain addressed them : "Shipmates," 
he said, "don't flatter yourselves that our demonstrations 
have frightened those fellows off. They know very well 
that there is no warship in this vicinity and some of them, 
at least, know that there are no big guns on board. These 
Malays are the boldest and most cunning set of pirates 
under the sun. There are some clouds coming up astern, 
you see, but there is not enough wind yet for us to escape 
them. I will take charge of the wheel, and if a breeze 
springs up, I will run over some of the canoes if I can. 
Let every man lie flat on the forecastledeck, and as soon 
as they come within range, take good, steady aim and 
fire. After you have fired two volleys of ball cartridges, 
reload your muskets with buckshot. By that time they 



248 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/"" 

will be close aboard. Then give it to them again at close 
range. Then divide yourselves, the second mate and his 
watch to the starboard side, the mate and his watch to 
the port, and as they come alongside, give them your hand 
grenades and a couple of volleys from your revolvers. 
Then, if it is possible, reload your pieces under cover of 
the bulwarks, and if they show their heads above the raiJ 
just give it to them. If a number of them succeed in get- 
ting on deck and are likely to overpower you, fight your 
way aft to the companionway and there we will defend 
ourselves to the last man. Be steady, take good aim and 
fire to hit. Ofiicers and men, do you understand?" 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered all hands. 

"Then go," said the captain, "and remember that when 
they come they will come quickly and may Almighty God 
help us. Jack, come with me into the cabin." 

We met Mrs. Benjamin in the companionwaj^ The 
captain went over the situation with her, adding that I 
was to remain with her. He then gave each of us two re- 
volvers and said: 

"Jack, don't you under any consideration whatever 
leave Mrs. Benjamin without my orders." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I said, "but I can handle a revolver." 

"So can I," said Mrs. Benjamin, "quite as well as any- 
one. Husband, we must go on deck with you." 

"No, no," he said. "You may stand in the forward 
cabin and reload our guns as Jack passes them to you." 

"But we must, we must," she pleaded. "Jack can take 
the wheel and I will stand by him." 

"My dear wife," said Captain Benjamin, "please do^ as 
I have commanded, and I promise that if the worst comes 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 249 

to pass we are to take our position around the companion- 
way. I w411 then notify you, and you and Jack may both 
come on deck and we will die together." He then em- 
braced her, saying, "Good-bye, till we meet again." 

"God bless you, my husband, and all of the crew," she 
said, as he turned and went on deck. I followed him to 
the companionway and there took up my station to watch 
and wait. 

"Be brave, Jack, be brave," he said. 

"Aye, aye, sir, I will," I answered. 

A half hour then passed. The suspense and anxiety 
of watching and waiting was awful. The pirates intended 
to surprise us, and they thought that the longer they kept 
away, the less we would be on our guard, and yet, no 
doubt, they feared that we might get some wind and 
steer clear of them. They did not carry any sail, but 
were skillful with their paddles, and could send their 
canoes through the water swiftly. It was exactly four 
bells, (ten P. Ml.), when I heard the running rigging 
stretching and all the gear aloft creaking. 

"Jack," said the captain, "tell Mrs. Benjamin a good 
breeze is coming." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered, and passed the good news 
along to her. 

"I thought it would come. Jack, I thought it would 
come." 

The "Two Sisters" began to gather headway at once, 
which was a relief to all on board. Just then the man 
aloft called out cjuietly, "Boats ahead, sir." 

"All right, come down, c|uick," answered Mr. Stover. 



250 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/"" 

"Jack, did you hear that?" said the captain. 

"Aye, aye, sir, I have told Mrs, Benjamin," I said. 
He then ordered me to pull the companion-slide over and 
close one of the outside doors. By that time I was getting 
rather shaky, yet I did not fully comprehend the awful 
consequences, if captured. 

"Here they come in two columns," cried out the sec- 
ond mate. 

"They intend to board us on both sides at the same 
time," said Mr. Stover. "Be steady, men, be steady, take 
good aim at the first two canoes of each column. Ready : 
fire !" Two volleys rang out in quick succession and twen- 
ty-four balls went crashing into their canoes, piercing 
them through and through. They did not surprise us, 
as they had intended, but we completely surprised them 
by our reception. They answered with a wild yell and 
a shower of arrows that fell short, and on they came. 
Their yells were hideous. 

A good breeze had suddenly sprung up. The "Two 
Sisters" responded gallantly. After our men had fired 
their first volleys they reloaded their pieces with a double 
charge of buckshot cartridges. The pirates, instead of 
keeping their two columns opened, and closing up on 
either side of us as we passed through, lost their heads, 
huddled together, and were now under our bow in great 
confusion. We then poured into them forty-eight charges 
of coarse buckshot, with deadly effect. This completely 
demoralized them. Some attempted to board us over the 
bow, and several of them were shot. The rest were com- 
pelled to jump overboard, their canoes having been run 
down, as we were now going through the water at the 
rate of four knots. 



A Cabin Boy''s Story. 251 

As we swept by them, some on one side of us and some 
on the other, we poured into them two broadsides with 
our revolvers and hand grenades. In a moment or two 
they were left astern. The captain and officers then gave 
them some parting salutations from their breechloading 
rifles, until they were lost in the darkness. Only one man 
succeeded in getting on board. Strange to say he was 
among them, but not of them. It was a miracle that he 
was not shot down. He prostrated himself on deck and 
pleaded for his life. Several of the crew seized him at 
once and were about to throw him over the rail, when the 
captain cried out : 

"Spare him, men, spare him. He can't harm us." 

They did not notice that he was unarmed until the 
cook rushed up and hurriedly exclaimed: 

"De prisoner ! de prisoner !" Then several of the crew 
recognized him as the young fellow whom the king tried 
to trade off for the captain's rifle. 

The cook took charge of our voluntary prisoner and 
led him into the galley and gave him something to eat. 
The captain ordered that he be put in irons and lashed 
under the forecastledeck until morning. A careful search 
was then made over the bow, in all the chain-plates, and 
all about the decks for any of the pirates, who, perchance, 
might have gotten on board and concealed themselves, 
but none were found. 

The ship was now headed on her true course and the 
sails were trimmed. Before the battle, I was fearful, but 
after the first volleys had been fired I forgot all about 
my fears and rushing into the presence of Mrs. Benjamin, 
swinging my arms around up over my head, said : 



252 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters." 

"They have come, ma'am, they have come, but you 
needn't be afraid. We can whip a thousand of them.'" 
Mrs. Benjamin was very much afraid just then, not for 
her own sake but for mine. 

"Jack! Jack!" she cried, "be careful of those revolvers. 
Lay them on the dining-table and let me know if any 
pirates get on board, then you may take them again." I 
was so excited that I really did not know that I had a re- 
volver in each hand. It was not strange that Mrs. Ben- 
jamin became alarmed at my manoeuvers. I laid them on 
the table as she bade me, and ran back to my station in 
season to see the finish of the battle as related above. 

After the sails had been trimmed and all hands were 
mustered aft, Mrs. Benjamin came on deck. The cap- 
tain, addressing us, said : 

"Officers, and men, you did well, every man of you. 
You have saved the ship and cargo, and also your lives; 
not one is missing or injured, for which I am grateful to 
Almighty God. What say you, men?" 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered all hands simultaneously. 
He continued: 

"I intend to make honorable mention of you all to the 
owners, insurance companies, and to the American con- 
sul at Shanghai," 

"Captain," said Mr. Fletcher. "Allow me, sir, to speak 
for myself and the crew ; in the first place we might have 
done better, but we could not have done any less than to 
do our duty, our lives were at stake as well as the ship 
and cargo. If you and Mr. Stover had not sighted the 
pirates at sundown, they would have surprised and cap- 
tured us, instead of which we surprised them ; then the 
breeze came to our rescue. There were eight large canoes, 



A Cabin Boy's Stoey. 253 

carrying- each about twenty-five savages. Why, sir, if 
they had once reached the deck, we would not have been 
a mouthful apiece for them." 

"It was miraculous, sir," said Mr. Stover. "I will 
wager my outfit that Mrs. Benjamin had been commun- 
ing with the Kings of kings,' wdio said, 'Call upon Me 
in trouble and I will deliver thee.' " 

"Well, you may just reckon she was, sir," I inter- 
rupted. 

"Shipmates," said Mrs. Benjamin. "Jack and I did call 
upon our Heavenly Father and committed you all and 
everything into His keeping and he gave me this promise, 
'Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for 
I am thy God, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help 
thee, 3'-ea, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of 
my righteousness,' and He answered our petition, for 
which we ought to praise Him now and evermore." 

"We will, we will," exclaimed all hands. "Three 
cheers for the Stars and Stripes, Mrs. Benjamin, and all 
hands." After the cheering, all the guns were picked up, 
carefully loaded and put in their respective places, ready 
for use again if needed. 

By this time the cook and steward had provided 
luncheon for all hands, cofifee, cheese, crackers and some 
choice canned meats. We did not forget our prisoner. 
Mr. Fletcher led him to the galley. He seemed very fear- 
ful at first, but when they took the irons off his wrists 
and gave him some coffee, bread and meat, he was, at 
first, too much surprised and overjoyed even to eat. 

He tried to express his gratitude to us, and how thank- 
ful he was to get away from the pirates. He made us 
understand that he had been captured by them in one of 



254 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

their raids on the mainland. The crew pronounced hin"" 
a real Malay. He appeared to be sincere and honest in 
his exultations, but we were, at first, afraid to trust him, 
so he was put in irons again until the following morning. 
He was evidently not afraid of us, for, with a full stom- 
ach and Tom's mattress to lie on, he was soon asleep. It 
was then midnight, and the port watch went below. 

The moon had now risen, fair, majestic, serenely beau- 
tiful, in such magnificent splendor as can be seen nowhere, 
except in the tropics. The wind was fair and steady ; and 
as there was nothing special going on, the second mate 
said that I might turn in. The day had been full of ex- 
citement and activity, fraught with much danger, a Sab- 
bath never to be forgotten. As I lay down to rest 1 
thanked God for His wonderful deliverance and a sense 
of gratitude and thanksgiving came over me deeper than 
ever before. 

On the following morning it was my wheel from eight 
to ten A. M. Our prisoner was brought aft for examina- 
tion. We were about eighty-five miles down the strait 
from Achen Head and within fifteen miles of an island. 
Mrs. Benjamin called attention to "Robinson Crusoe's 
man, Friday," and suggested that our prisoner be called 
Sunday. When Sunday was .led to the poop deck, 
his irons were taken off, and after looking around, he 
recognized the island and pointed out about the locality 
of his own country on the mainland. He became very 
excited and explained to us by gestures and with the aid 
of a piece of chalk that we gave him, how that the pirates 
landed there and carried him away captive, and if the 
captain would steer a little closer to the island, he would 
jump overboard and reach the shore. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 255 

The captain, being afraid of the shoals and reefs, de- 
nied his petition. When Sunday fully comprehended 
that the ship's course could not be changed, he resolved to 
make another wild dash for liberty and rushing to the 
rail, leaped into the sea and struck out for the land. 

The captain at first decided not to interfere with him, 
but suddenly changed his mind. "He will never reach the 
shore, the wind and current are against him. He is a 
brave fellow, we will save him. Hard to starboard," he 
shouted, "light up the head sheets, starboard fore braces." 
As the wind was aft, the mainsail was already clewed up. 
While the ship was coming up to the wind, Mts. Ben- 
jamin, by means of a pair of glasses, had kept Sunday 
well in sight. After the maintopsail was laid back, a boat 
was lowered and the second mate with four men put oft 
for the fugitive. After they had pulled up to him he 
evaded capture by diving under the boat from one side to 
the other and swimming under water. At last he became 
exhausted, but even then was not anxious to be taken 
into the boat. 

By the time they had got on board and the boat hoisted, 
the wind had veered to the north, northeast. Our course 
was southeast, quarter east. The order was then given, 
"Fill away the maintopsail and board the main tack." 

"We have lost one good hour," said the captain, "but 
if nothing happens to this fellow, I expect his life to repay 
us a thousandfold. I intend," he said, "to transfer him 
to any warship which we may meet, they will be glad to 
have him to aid them in running down the pirates. Sun- 
day will be a swift witness against them. If we fail to 
meet any cruiser, we will take him on to Shanghai. The 
authorities there will be glad of the opportunity to send a 



256 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

gunboat down here and endeavor to break up these 
marauding bands which prey upon the commerce of all 
nations. Sunday will be a valuable pilot in ferreting 
them out. We will try to make him understand about it 
after he gets tamed down again. Mrs. Benjamin, you 
and Jack may do some real missionary work now, surely 
you have a good subject," remarked the captain. 

"We are very glad of the opportunity, sir," she said. 
'Tf Jack and I are to be rsponsible for the moral and re- 
ligious training of Sunday, I charge you to care for his 
physical and temporal needs." 

"All right," said the captain. "1 reckon that this in- 
junction corresponds with the teaching of the Book. Mr. 
Fletcher, take the gentleman to the cook for breakfast, 
while I look up some suitable clothing for him." 

The cook soon provided a good breakfast for him, and 
in the meantime gave him his first lesson in English, 
teaching" him first his nickname, Sunday, then the dif- 
ferent names of things he was eating, coffee, bread, etc. 
He made us understand that he would not try to escape 
again. He knew very well there was not any chance for 
him to reach the shore. 

While at dinner, that day, Mr. Fletcher and the stew- 
ard talked over the situation. "I guess those fellows 
thought, last night, that they had run up against a gun- 
boat," said the steward. "How many do you suppose 
there were of them? I wonder if the king led the band, 
and if he was killed. My ! my ! what would we have done 
if the good Lord had not sent us a breeze? Are you ex- 
pecting to have Sunday in your watch?" 

"There, there, belay that, you want to know altogether 
too much at once," answered the second mate. "I am 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 257 

afraid that you will not be able to comprehend it all at one 
time — all the information that you desire." 

"I fear that I will not, sir, if you intend to elaborate 
on every question," retorted the steward. "The fact is, 
I was so busy loading and firing my pieces that I did not 
even count the canoes." 

"Well, in the first place," said Mr. Fletcher, "about 
running up against a gunboat. After we had poured into 
them four volleys of balls and buckshot, I reckon that a 
good many of them didn't think anything about it, and 
as the 'Two Sisters' began to run down several of their 
canoes, the rest of them were just then more concerned 
about keeping out of our way. I counted eight canoes. 
We probably would have all died, fighting to the last, had 
it not been for the breeze that sprung up. Now in re- 
gard to our former guest, the king, being at the head of 
the gang, and about how many of them were killed Sun- 
day may inform us, as soon as he becomes a little civil- 
ized." 

"If the king was not killed," said the steward, "my 
humble opinion is that he ought to have been, or will be 
when Sunday arrives on the scene again with a gunboat." 

"Well, I can tell you this much about it," said the sec- 
ond mate. "I don't do as much praying as I ought." 

"Avast there, shipmate," interrupted the steward, 
"that's the real truth with all of us." 

"Well, as I was about to say," continued Mr. Fletcher, 
"I felt that we did need help from above. I knew very 
well that Mrs. Benjamin was doing what she could in 
that line, and I did pray, too." 



258 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"I think that there was need enough of it, sir, not only 
for you, but for all the rest of us," replied the steward. 
"The very best way, however, to be prepared for an emer- 
gency, is to keep prayed up to date. Mr. Fletcher, do 
you know the length and breadth of the Strait of Ma- 
lacca? I see that they have got out the deep sea line 
ready for sounding. Is it dangerous to navigate?" 

"I heard the captain and Mr. Stover going over the 
route together just before noon," replied Mr. Fletcher. 
"You probably know the strait separates the Malay 
Peninsula from the Island of Sumatra. This island is 
one thousand and sixty miles in length and extends in a 
southeasterly direction. From a line drawn from Achen 
Head across to Junksenlon, on the Malay side, the strait 
is two hundred and twenty-five miles wide, from this line 
to the Caramon Islands, the southeast end of the peninsula, 
it is five hundred miles in length. The southeastern part 
of the strait narrows dov^m to about twenty-one miles. 
The main channel is designated on the chart as the north 
and south sands. On either side of this channel are nu- 
merous shoals, reefs and islands. There are no lightships 
nor lighthouses, buoys nor beacons, nor any such helps 
to guide us, and the charts that we have are not quite cor- 
rect. However, as we have no business outside of the 
main channel, we will not run much risk. We expect 
to make the south sands by the lead and follow the edge 
of them along in from fourteen to eighteen fathoms to 
the Strait of Singapore. This strait is fifty miles in 
length and will take us into the China Sea. We may 
get through the Strait of Singapore in about four days, 
if we have much of a breeze. Now, about Sunday. 
The mate will take him in his watch, he will soon learn 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 259 

how to wash dishes, pull a rope and hold a turn. His 
clothes fit him, but he is not used to them yet. He and 
the cook are getting quite chummy already. They are 
both of the same color, but of different races. Now, Mr. 
Steward, I believe I have answered all your questions." 

'T will ask you just one more, if you please, sir," said 
the steward, "how many days will it take for us to reach 
our destination?" 

"Well," answer Mr. Fletcher, "if you can tell me just 
what kind of winds we will have, I will tell you within 
twenty-four hours, when we will arrive at Shanghai, 
However, I can tell you something about the course and 
distance, then you may be able to judge for yourself. 
After we get through the Strait of Singapore into the 
China Sea we will have one thousand eight hundred 
miles of latitude and about seven hundred and twenty- 
five miles of east longitude to make. Our course will 
be about northeast by north until we pass up between 
the Islands of Luzon and Formosa, and thence from 
northwest to north. We may make it in from twenty to 
fifty days." 

After the above conversation I turned in. At eight 
bells the captain ordered me to bring Sunday aft for 
instructions. I went forward as far as the break of the 
poop deck and called *out, "Sunday." He came quickly 
in answer to his name and followed me aft. Mrs. Ben- 
jamin came on deck with a blackboard and chalk. The 
captain drew an outline of the southwest coast of Malay 
Peninsula and of the islands north of us. Sunday rec- 
ognized the island from which they boarded on Sunday 
afternoon, and also the one which he intended to reach 
when he jumped overboard on Monday morning. The 



26o Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

captain explained that we might have to take him on to 
China. He took in the situation and seemed much dis- 
couraged, as he knew that China was a great distance 
to the north ; but then the captain explained, by means of 
word pictures, that when we arrived at Shanghai, he 
would be transferred to a warship and brought back to 
the island to help annihilate the pirate. When Sun- 
day understood the captain's plans for him he became 
much elated, dancing and swinging himself around sev- 
eral times, making obeisance. Then he seized a piece 
of chalk and drew three islands and pointed out the ren- 
dezvous of the pirates, which greatly pleased Captain 
Benjamin. From that time Sunday was contented, 
useful and happy. After some further palavering be- 
tween the captain and Sunday, he was turned over to 
Mrs. Benjamin for moral and spiritual instruction. 

"Captain," said Mrs. Benjamin, 'T am afraid that my 
teaching will conflict with your instructions. You are 
planning to send Sunday back with vengeance in his 
heart, and a sword in his hand. I propose to send him 
back with a Bible in his hand and Divine love in his 
heart." 

"Mrs. Benjamin," said the captain, "I think truth is 
many sided, that God is a God of justice as well as of 
love. We read that 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' 
and I am sure that these pirates are bad fellow." 

"You are right, captain, I will try and make the truth 
clear and simple to Sunday." "Jack," said Mrs. Benja- 
min, "how shall we begin?" 

"Perhaps, ma'am, we might use the illustrated life of 
our Savior, which we have in the library." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 261 

"That is just what we need, Jack, go and get it," she 
said. 

Mrs. Benjamin first explained to Sunday, that there 
was a Supreme Being who had created all things in the 
heavens and the earth. This teaching was new and 
strange to Sunday, yet by means of the illustrations in 
the book and Mrs. Benjamin's explanation he seemed 
to comprehend something of the truth. He had a forcible 
way of expressing himself whenever he understood and 
accepted the teachings, and it was gratifying to watch 
him. His countenance would light up with a good de- 
gree of intelligence, and by his gestures he would an- 
swer, "Yes, yes, good, very good," as intelligently as 
though he had used the words. On the other hand, if 
anything that he did not comprehend or care to know 
about were told him, he would appear as dull and stu- 
pid as a mule. 

The weather had been moderate for several days, with 
the exception of a squall, now and then. We succeeded 
in passing through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore 
on the evening of the sixth day after rounding Achen 
Head. A volcano had been plainly visible on the Island 
of Sumatra for several days. It was active and was real- 
ly awful to look upon, yet sublimely grand and majestical- 
ly beautiful, especially during the night. We passed in 
close proximity to the Caramon Islands. The large 
Island of Borneo lay to the south and east of us. 

It was now Monday morning, January 15, 1859, and 
we were one hundred and sixteen days out. "Good morn- 
ing, Mr. Fletcher," said the steward, as we sat down to 
breakfast. "How did everything go last night?" 



262 Voyage of """The Two Sisters/'' 

"I don't know about everything," answered the sec- 
ond mate, "but the things about which we are concerned 
didn't go very fast, except the time, which shpped along 
only sixty seconds a minute, but my! how fast it does 
count up. Here we are, nearly four months out, and we 
have got a long pull of it yet before we reach our desti- 
nation." 

"Well," replied the steward, "we stored up for two 
years, and we can stand it another four months if we 
can't do better." 

"Yes, that all may be true, so far as eating and drink- 
ing are concerned, but what about the 'Two Sisters' 
and her owners ? After a while this continual wear and 
tear would wear out the best ship afloat. Then there is 
all the capital invested; the owners and merchants in- 
terested have a right to expect some profit in dollars and 
cents." 

"That's right," replied the steward, "someone will 
have to make money to pay the expenses of the voyage 
and have any profit left, but I have done all that I could 
to help the ship along." 

"There is no question that the ship has been properly 
handled and navigated," said Mr. Fletcher, "we all had 
a hand in it and did our best. We are not responsible 
for adverse winds, calms and storms, but we are responsi- 
ble for what we do while they are on. However, if we 
make the trip out in five months I guess no one will com- 
plain." 

"I am sure I will not, for one," replied the steward, 
"although that means thirty-four days more. The clipper 
ship, 'Surprise' made the passage out in ninety days, the 
fastest on record, so far as I know. The longest passage 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 263 

I know was that of the ship 'Richard Bustine,' which was 
nine months out from Boston — two hundred and seventy 
days, just think of that!" 

"If the monsoons are favorable," said the second mate, 
"we win make the passage in less than the average time." 

"Sail ho," called someone forward. 

"Where away," shouted Mr. Stover. 

"Dead ahead, sir," came back the answer. The con- 
versation at the breakfast table came to an end abruptly 
as we were all anxious to get on deck as quickly as pos- 
sible and get a look at the stranger. 

"A steamship, sir," said Mt. Stover, after an exami- 
nation with his glass, "she is heading straight for us." 
She was soon in hailing distance, and proved to be Her 
Majesty's first class frig;ate, "Resolute," under orders to 
report at Cape Town, South Africa, intended to touch at 
Singapore and Anjer Point. 

We reported our experience with the pirates in the 
Strait of Malacca, and that we had on board a man who 
had escaped from them, knew their hiding places and 
was anxious to testify against them. 

The commander of the "Resolute" answered: "Will 
be glad to take your man on board and deliver him to 
the British Consul at Singapore. I am to report my ship 
at Cape Town with as quick despatch as possible, be- 
sides this vessel is too large to be effectual in running 
down pirates." 

Captain Benjamin, fearing that justice might be frus- 
trated, declined the British officer's offer, but requested 
him to report us, and to report the locality of the pirates 



264 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

when he arrived at Singapore and Cape Town, so that 
ships bound through the Strait of Malacca might be 
warned. 

After giving the bearing of Bintang Island, we bade 
them farewell. Before parting company their men lined 
up along the port rail and gave three hearty cheers for 
the gallant Yankee bark and her brave crew. The cap- 
tain called Sunday aft and tried to explain why he 
was not trasferred to the English frigate. The cook also 
had been trying his hand at it. During all this time Sun- 
day had had his eyes open. He astonished Captain Ben- 
jamin by proving that he understood the situation. He 
took the blackboard and chalk drew an outline of one of 
the hiding places of the pirates. It was reached only 
through a long, crooked and narrow channel, several 
miles in length, with only ten to twelve feet of water. On 
either side of this channel, for many miles, were sand 
bars and shoals. He pictured Her Majesty's ship, "Reso- 
lute," searching for pirates, grounding on one of the 
shoals, launching their boats, a fruitless search for the 
channel ; the ship settling deep in the sand ; abandoning of 
the ship by her crew, and the marauders seizing the 
prize. In striking contrast he drew a small gunboat feel- 
ing her way along the shoals, entering the channel and 
ferreting out the enemy. These drawing were without 
artistic skill, taste or pretension and were crude to one 
who did not understand the situation; but to us, who 
knew the circumstances, they were comprehensible. In 
addition he made us understand that he had learned from 
the pirates that there was no small gunboat in the vicin- 
ity of the strait at that time, and that it would have been 
useless for him to have landed at Singapore. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 265 

Sunday was much pleased, when he reaHzed fully 
that he was trusted. He tried to make friends with 
everybody on board and soon became a general favorite. 
One vied with another in teaching him English, and the 
things of God, the Father. It was a beautiful sight to 
behold Sunday, sitting at the feet of an old sailor, be- 
ing taught the way of everlasting life. All of the crew 
had known of the plan of salvation from their boyhood 
days, but there were only three who had really the prac- 
tical experience, yet everyone of them was anxious that 
Sunday should Icnow of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the 
world. 

It was now four bells in the morning of the fourth day 
after we had spoken the frigate, "Resolute." A heavy 
squall was coming up, and the starboard watch was on 
deck. I had just relieved the wheel. The captain came 
on deck to take a look at the weather. He had noticed 
that the barometer was falling. 

"Good morning, Mr. Fletcher," he said, "big squall 
coming." 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the second mate, "but I 
think it will be favorable, and I believe, sir, that the orders 
are, 'if the wind be fair to carry sail as long as possible.' " 

"That's correct," replied the captain, "you see that 
the northeast monsoons are the prevailing winds here 
during this part of the year, which, of course, are dead 
ahead; but I thought by working up to the westward of 
Luzon, just out of sight of land, we would have a slant, 
now and then, and so far, I am satisfied with my decision. 
These morning squalls and variable winds during the 
night will help us very much. We have made about six 
hundred miles to the northward and eastward since we 



266 Voyage of ''^The Two Sisters/'' 

spoke the 'Resolute.' I think we had better call all hands 
and stand by the light sails. We will carry them as long 
as we can, and when we take them in, let us handle them 
quickly." 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the second mate as he 
shouted, "All hands on deck, shorten sail." In five min- 
utes everybody was ready for action. We had been 
steering full and by, and heading northwest by north on 
the starboard tack; the squall was coming up from the 
southeast, consequently the ship kept heading up to the 
north and east. 

"How do 5^ou head, Jack?" called out the captain. 

"Northeast, half north, sir." 

"Keep her northeast and nothing to the northward." 

"Northeast and nothing to the northward, sir," I an- 
swered. The wind increased steadily. 

"Jack, do you think that you can hold her if it blows 
heavily ?" 

"Don't know, sir, but I'll try." 

"I will be here to lend you a hand if you need any 
help, Mr. Stover," he said. "Check in the weather braces 
a couple of points and take in the skysail." 

The captain then took the wheel and ordered me aloft 
to furl the sail. It was just what I was wishing for. I 
was always delighted to have a heavy squall, especially 
if there was any climbing for me to do. So I ran up the 
rigging with a will and was soon on the yard, gathering 
up the sail. By the time that I had secured the bunt- 
gasket, down went the royal yards and the sails were 
clued up. I heard the second mate shouting, "Haul down 
the flying jib and upperstaysails, stand by the gallant 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 267 

and topsail-halyards fore and aft." When I had furled 
the skysail and got down on the royal-yard I met Sam. 

" 'Alia, Jack, hi knows you could 'andle de royal hall 
right, but the second mate sent me hup 'ere to lend ye an 
'and. Git on the lee side of the mast, Jack, and we'll furl 
'im hup in an 'urry." 

"I could have furled the sail all right, Sam," I said, 
"but I am glad you are here, the wind is increasing every 
minute, but I don't care, for it is fair, so let it blow." 

"Hi ham hafraid we'll 'ave a reefin' time hof hit 'fore 
we git through with hit. Jack." 

"I don't know, Sam," I said. "I heard the old man 
say the squall would be favorable and that he was going 
to carry sail like a pirate." When I reached the deck, I 
went aft to take the wheel again. The captain was still 
steering. 

"Jack," he said, "the 'Two Sisters' is a bit too proud 
of herself just now for you to handle; take the lee wheel, 
watch me and see how I do it. She only wants a little 
wheel, once in a while, but that little is needed just at 
the right time. You must look ahead, as well as at the 
compass." 

"It's blowing heavy, sir," said the mate. 

"All right," answered the captain. "Lower away the 
degallantsails, mizzentopsail and let them hang." 

After awhile they were hoisted again. It was now 
seven bells and the watch went to breakfast. The squall 
continued until noon. According to the captain's calcu- 
lations we made eighty miles on our true course. 

"Another squall like that, sir, would take us up to the 
northward of Formosa," said Mr. Stover, "it was one of 



268 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

the most accommodating squalls that I ever experienced. 
If it had come in the night we could not have taken ad- 
vantage of it by carrying sail as long as we did." 

During the first dog watch, Mrs. Benjamin ordered 
me to get out the blackboard and call Sunday. "J^-ck," 
she said, "I will endeavor to impress upon his mind 
the great difference between the heathen religions 
and Christianity." 

"Wilson and the cook have been trying to explain 
it to him, ma'am ; I don't know that they made it 
very clear, but they found out that Sunday knew 
something about Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed 
and other false teachers." 

"Well, we will see what we can do," she said. As 
Sunday came aft, Mrs. Benjamin drew a picture 
of a lone traveler feeling his way along a narrow 
path in a very dark night. There was overgown 
vegetation, as high as his shoulders, impeding his 
progress. Sunday comprehended the scene quickly, 
saying, "Yes, yes." There was no doubt but what 
he had passed over just such paths many and many 
a time. He recognized the fact that the lone traveler 
represented in the sketch was intended for him and 
seemed anxious to know the sequel. Mrs. Benjamin 
then drew a well, a little to the left of the path, with 
the traveler at the bottom, who, stumbling along in 
the dark had fallen into it. Sunday shook his head, 
saying, "No, no," and appeared much concerned. 

"Get the illustrated life of Christ, Jack," said Mrs. 
Benjamin, "I hope to make him understand what I 
am trying to teach him." She then explained to him 



A Cabin Boy's Story, 269 

that all the nations which knew not the one trite God, 
were groping about in darkness; that all the people 
were as unable to help themselves as the poor lost 
traveler at the bottom of the well; that none of the 
heathen religious were of any avail. To impress 
upon Sunday's mind and heart, the great truth that 
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God was the Savior 
of the world, Mrs. Benjamin represented Confucius 
passing by and hearing the cries of the traveler, com- 
ing to the mouth of the well and giving some good 
advice, which would be valuable if he ever got out, 
yet gave him no practical help, and passed on. Then 
Buddha came and stooping over the well, looking 
down upon the sufferer, told him that he ought to 
have known better than to fall into such a'place, and 
because he did not know better he must suffer the 
consequences, but that his young wife who was re- 
sponsible for a part of his misfortune should suffer 
for it all the days of her life; that his only future 
salvation was, if it pleased the gods, that he might 
be permitted to come back to life again in the ages 
to come and live on the earth in some kind of a rep- 
tile. Buddha then took his departure. Next came 
Mohammed, who sympathized with the man and 
assured him, over and over again, that he would help 
him, and he really did try, reaching down as far as 
he could, but alas for the poor traveler, Mohammed's 
arm was too short, he could not save him. By this 
time the man in the well lost all hope and gave 
himself up to die. Then the Savior of the world 
appeared and reaching down, down to the hopeless 
and helpless traveler lifted him safely out of the well, 



270 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

healed his wounds, gave him food, and journeyed 
along with him. Sunday pointed to the lone traveler 
wandering about in the dark and stumbling into the 
well, then to himself, as much as to say, "that's me." 
He proved to us that he recognized the man who 
had lifted him out of the well, healed his wounds, 
given him food and journeyed with him to open up 
the way, as his only Savior, the Son of the only true 
God, by taking the book and pointing out to us a 
picture of the Christ. 

In order that Sunday might understand something 
about how Christ's life and teachings were made 
manifest on the earth through His true followers, 
Mrs. Benjamin showed him and explained the illus- 
trated parable of the Good Samaritan. Sunday 
seemed much pleased with the instruction he had 
received, and by gestures, thanked Mrs. Benjamin 
the best he could. Before going forward he expressed 
a desire to borrow the illustrated life of Christ. Mrs. 
Benjamin was glad to make him a present of it. He 
appreciated the gift very much. After this the book 
was designated as "Sunday's Bible." The supper 
bell now rang and the missionary meeting was ad- 
journed. 

During the night and the following morning we 
got as a slant from off the west coast of Luzon, as the 
captain had prophesied, and at noon that day we 
passed between the islands of Babuyan. These 
islands lie to the southeast of Formosa and to the 
northward of Luzon. We were still on the starboard 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 271 

tack. The monsoon was quite strong, blowing from 
east northeast. 

'*We are now on the western edge of the Pacific 
Ocean," said Captain Benjamin, "as soon as we 
weather the east point of Formosa we will have a 
leading wind and clear sailing, and I hope the mon- 
soons will bear down on us good and heavy." 

"Let me see, sir," replied the mate, "the east point 
of Formosa is one hundred and ninety miles due 
north of us. Don't know," he said, as he looked to 
the windward and shook his head, "we are heading 
north, half west, that is the best we can do at pres- 
ent. Of course, we are making some leeway and 
the current is setting- down between the islands, 
which is against us." 

"Your calculations are correct from the present 
point of view," said the captain, "but I am expecting 
that the wind will veer a little more to the eastward 
this evening and, if it does, we will keep on the star- 
board tack and weather the point all right by eight 
bells to-morrow morning. I know that the Pacific 
Ocean is a good sized pond, but we don't want to 
use any more of it at this time than is necessary. I 
hope to get to the northward of Formosa and into 
the China Sea again as soon as possible." 

"Well," said Mr. Stover, "we are making ten knots 
an hour in that direction, and the wind appears to 
be favoring us a little already." 

"How do you head?" called out the captain to the 
man at the wheel. 

"North by east, one quarter north, sir." 



272 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

The captain ordered Mr. Fletcher to send up the 
topmaststuddingsails. The captain and mate then 
went to dinner. 

"Ee, Jack, that look like de fair wind," said the 
cook as he saw the studdingsails going up. 

"Just about laying our course, Cook," I answered, 
"but we hope to check in our weather braces before 
long." 

"That's de ticket, Jack, I like him blow hard so to 
git clear dis Formosa Island quick. De pirates here 
like him hunt ships here in de calm weather." 

"I guess you are right. Cook, but we must be care- 
ful .and not get caught on the lee shore, for if we 
ever touch the bottom on the east coast of this island 
the pirates would take charge of us in a quarter less 
than no time." 

"Ee, Jack, de captain he look him out for de lee 
shore." 

Sunday was working near by, scraping one of the 
water casks. He understood that the cook and I 
were talking about pirates and shook his head, say- 
ing: 

"Pirates no good; captain, missus, good; Jack, 
cook, he good." 

Sunday seemed to think everybody good except 
pirates, but there is no doubt when he comes in 
contact with the world at large he will find some 
people bad, very bad; others good, some better and 
a few the very best. We will all agree with Sun- 
day that of all men to be dreaded, a band of pirates 
is the worst. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 273 

Sunday had become a valuable addition to the 
ship's company : he was a good man on the lookout 
and an expert climber. Mr. Stover had taught him 
to steer by the compass. Wilson was his principal 
teacher of English, and he was an apt scholar. The 
words which he learned he was taught to pronounce 
correctly. We did not teach him pigeon English. 
Mrs. Benjamin never tired of instructing him in 
spiritual things. Neither Mrs. Benjamin nor the 
rest of us conceived at that time of the results of 
her faithful teaching of Sunday's future career, of 
the good that he was to be permitted to accomplish 
for the commerce of nations, as a Christian officer 
in her majesty's service. His great success could 
be traced back to the patient kindness and useful in- 
struction he received while on board of the "Two Sis- 
ters." 

The following day, about noon, we succeeded in 
weathering the northeastern point of Formosa, as the 
captain had predicted twenty-four hours before. A strong 
breeze was still blowing from the east northeast. We 
were carrying every stitch of canvas that we could 
spread close by the wind, heading north by west to 
north one-half west. 

"We have got to make about three hundred and 
sixty miles before reaching the Saddle Islands," said 
the captain, "the East Saddle bears from us forty 
miles west of north. I expect that the wind will 
head us off to-night, as it varies during- this month 
from northeast to northwest in this locality, and we 
are likely to run into some thick weather as we near 
the coast." 



274 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"I suppose, sir," said the mate, "that we will have 
a tacking match of it, but other ships have met and 
overcome the same conditions, and I am sure the 
'Two Sisters' can eat her way to the windward with 
the best of them. I think that we will probably fall 
in with a pilot a few miles to the southward of the 
East Saddle Island. If I remember rightly, their 
outermost cruising station is between Leucotna Island, 
Barren Islands, and the East Saddle." 

Mr. Fletcher, the steward and myself were much 
elated as we sat down to dinner that day. Our long 
journey was nearing the end. The steward re- 
marked: 

"It is just what I have longed for ever since we 
discharged the pilots off Sandy Hook." 

"Well, Mr. Steward," inquired the second mate, 
"what is it that you have been longing for during all 
the last one hundred and thirty-eight days?" 

"To welcome a Chinese pilot on board, somewhere 
in the vicinity of the mouth of Yang-tse River," 
answered the steward. 

"We have got a hard pull and a long pull of it ; 
three hundred and sixty miles dead to the windward 
still ahead of us, before we reach that point," said 
Mr. Fletcher, "it may take us ten or fifteen days 
before we get safely anchored at Shanghai, but even 
so, w^e have no reason to complain. 

"That's a fact," replied the steward, "taking into 
consideration all that we have passed through since 
leaving New York, I think we have been very fortu- 
nate. I thought that our voyage of life was about 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 275 

ended when those pirates made their appearance un- 
der our bow in the strait of Malacca, but we came 
out of it without a scratch, and I am rather glad 
for that experience when I think of the very prac- 
tical lesson we taught them, and there is Sunday; 
the way was opened for his providential escape from 
the awful life of a pirate slave, and if I am not mis- 
taken, they will hear from him again some day." 

"I have thought it over several times," said the sec- 
ond mate, "we ran the gauntlet sure enough that 
night," continued Mr. Fletcher. "There is some good 
steel in that chap Sunday, he knows his soundings, 
although he overrun his reckoning a little when he 
jumped overboard and struck out for a twenty-mile 
swim, against wind and tide, to secure liberty. He 
didn't know us then, but he proved his mettle. Why, 
I tell you, that fellow is picking up English and 
other things, hand over hand, and I have an inkling 
that if the old man can carry out his plans for him, 
Sunday will bring many a pirate up with a round 
turn. AVell, Jack, it's our watch below, and if the 
steward cares to be entertained by this after dinner 
talk, we have no objections." 

"Go on, go on," replied the steward, "I rather en- 
joy it, besides I am in no hurry just now. I was 
thinking about the two hurricanes which we encount- 
ered, especially that one we experienced in the At- 
lantic, north of the equator. That tidal wave ap- 
peared as though it would completely annihilate us." 

"I have not forgotten either of them," said the 
second mate. 



276 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Jack, what has impressed you most during the 
voyage ?" asked the steward. 

"Well, sir," I answered, "this eighth day of Feb- 
ruary, 1859, impresses me, as it is my birthday and 
I am now thirteen years old." 

"We have had a pleasant chat together," said Mr. 
Fletcher, "let us make well fast all that has been 
said, and now. Jack, my boy, you and I will turn in 
for a little snooze." 

"And leave me to do all the work," remarked the 
steward. 

"Past experience has taught me that the steward 
of the 'Two Sisters' is perfectly well qualified to take 
care of himself," replied the second mate. 

That evening, as I was assisting Mrs. Benjamin 
in getting out some winter clothing for the captain, 
and while we were talking over the voyage, I re- 
minded her that we had been out one hundred and 
thirty-eight days and that it was my birthday; where- 
upon she presented me with some nicknacks and a 
nice, warm comforter, saying : 

"Jack, your mother is thinking much about you 
to-day." Mrs. Benjamin's gifts and her remarks 
caused me to think of home and mother, and for a 
moment or two, the old-time homesickness came 
over me like a flood, and I felt just like crying, but, 
I thought, "you are thirteen years old and too big 
to cry. 

Mrs. Benjamin, observed my embarrassment, and 
remarked, cheerfully, "Never mind. Jack, we will 
soon be sailing home again." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 277 

I then told her of our conversation at the dinner 
table. "I did not hear it all," she said, "but I caught 
the drift of it. That which impresses me most, these 
days, Jack," she continued, "is that I am nearer my 
heavenly home than I am to my earthly home, but 
I trust that v^ill be glory for me 'to be absent from 
the body and present with the Lord,' and 'not to 
me only but unto them also that love His appear- 
ing.' " 

"But you are quite well now, ma'am," I said. 

"Yes, Jack, I am glad that I am, but — " at that 
moment Captain Benjamin entered and our conver- 
sation ceased. 

Mrs. Benjamin did not know, nor did I, at that 
time, that when we sailed none of her friends ex- 
pected to see her again in this life', and that all of 
the necessary articles for preserving her body had 
been placed on board. 

"Mrs. Benjamin," said the captain, "you had bet- 
ter brush up your shore clothing, for I expect to 
land you at Shanghai in a week or so." 

"If the wind does not fail us," intimated Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. 

"Well," continued the captain, "if we can keep the 
'Two Sisters' afloat, I promise to take you to church 
one week from next Sunday, which will be just 
twelve days, counting to-day." 

"I will be glad to accompany you, sir," said Mrs. 
Benjamin, "I hope that your calculations wnll prove 
correct. By the way, Jack and I have been getting 



278 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

out some warm clothing for you, and as it is his 
birthday I presented him with one of those com- 
forters." 

"I thank you very much, and I reckon that Jack 
does also. The night are getting real cold. It is 
just like you to be always helping others." 

During the following ten days all hands had been 
actively engaged in cleaning, scraping and painting 
up ship from waterline to truck. The spars were 
scraped and oiled, mastheads varnished, yards 
painted black, the lower masts white, and all of the 
bright work on deck scraped and varnished. The 
cabins also received attention, the woodwork was 
polished, carpets laid, stoves set up, etc. Everything 
was made as nedt as possible. The "Two Sisters" 
looked like a yacht, both inside and out. 

The wind had been dead ahead during the last 
week, but we had been steadily working our way 
to the windward. At six P. M. we were on the port 
tack heading east by north. "All hands tack ship," 
ordered the captain. After we were straightened 
out on the starboard tack, the wind favored us a little, 
as we had headed up northwest by west. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "if we average 
eight knots on this course, up to seven bells to-mor- 
row morning, we shall make the East Saddle Island. 
The North Saddle is in latitude 30 degrees 50 min- 
utes north, 122 degrees 41 minutes east longitude. 
If we don't fall in with a pilot in that vicinity, there 
is scarcely a doubt that we shall if we stand on our 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 279 

course to their middle cruising station, which is be- 
tween North Saddle Island, Elliot Island and Am- 
herst Rocks. If the weather should come in a little 
thick, we may miss them, and have to heave to and 
wait for them." 

"If we should happen to miss them, sir," replied 
the mate, "we will surely pick up one on the inner 
station, which is, from the light-ship, eight miles 
out." 

"We will not take any chances," said the captain, 
"and rather than lay outside with a leading breeze, 
I think we can take the ship up as far as the light- 
vessel with out running any risk. I have just been 
looking over the chart; the course is simple enough. 
We are not there yet, but we should know what to 
do in different circumstances when we arrive on the 
spot. In leaving the North Saddle Island, we must 
keep it, bearing southeast by east, one quarter east 
until Gutzlalf Island bears south, distance sixteen or 
seventeen miles. With GutzlafT bearing thus, the 
light-ship will be visible from the masthead, then 
we will steer for her, to cross the bar. If it should 
be thick weather, we will lay to for a pilot, ten miles 
to the north'ard of Gutzlaff." 

"The indications are that it will be clear to-mor- 
row, sir," replied the mate. "What is the position 
of the light-vessel as laid down on the chart?" 

"The light-ship," answered the captain, "is sup- 
posed to be anchored near mid channel on the inner 
part of the bar, and bears north by west, one quar- 
ter west, twenty-two miles from Gutzlaff; it shows 



28o Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

a revolving red light every twenty seconds and has 
a fog bell which can be heard about two miles. A 
gun is fired when a ship is seen running into danger 
and guide signals are set from the peak. The light 
is visible twelve miles in clear weather." 

"The directions are plain enough, sir," said Mr. 
Stover, "but the conditions are ever-changing. There 
was no light-vessel to mark the channel across the 
bar when I was here before." I was glad that I was 
at the wheel and heard the above conversation. 

"How do you head?" called the mate. "North- 
west, sir," I answered. 

"I think that when we get within fifteen miles of 
the coast, we will be able to lay our course," said the 
captain, as he and the mate went below. 

Wilson and I had a little chat during the middle 
watch that night. "Jack," he said, "how was it that 
you left a good home to go to sea when so young?" 

"I must have inherited a roving disposition from 
my father," I replied, "he made a voyage to Canton 
when he was a lad and followed the sea most of the 
time since, except the last ten years, which he has 
passed in California." 

"Well, Jack, how do you like life at sea?" 

"There are some things about it, Wilson, that I 
like. I have no reason to complain, but there are 
certain conditions which I can never overcome. My 
eyesight is not very good, you know, our binnacle 
is so far from the wheel that I can scarcely see to 
steer by the compass, and I could not be trusted on 
the lookout." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 281 

"Yes, Jack, that will prove a great hindrance to 
you. One needs a clear vision if one ever expects 
to make a success of a seafaring life. I advise you, 
v^hen you get home, to quit the sea and when you 
get through the schools you will be prepared to 
choose a more profitable occupation. However, this 
voyage will not be time lost, but will prove a valuable 
course of training. The experience that you will get 
and the lessons learned will be of value all through 
your life." 

"Light ho," shouted the lookout. 
"Where away," called out the second mate. 
"A point forward of the weather beam, sir." Wil- 
son and I went on the forecastledeck to take a look. 

"Hello," he said, "it looks like a steamer's light. 
Can you see it, Jack?" 

"No, Wilson, I can't." "There is a light," I thought, 
"he can see it distinctly and I cannot make it out at 
all." Then it was that I realized my deficiency as 
never before. 

"Never mind, Jack, I have been shipmate with 
some bright boys during my time, but take you aloft 
or on deck, Sundays and week days, alike, in storm 
or sunshine, you are the very best boy of your age 
I ever fell in with." 

"Sure, Wilson is right, he is," said Chips who was 
on the lookout, "yees have been a lift to us all. It's 
the likes of ye that makes life a bit plisant on board 
of a ship at say." These kind words were a source 
of encouragement and help. They inspired me to 
go on, to do better service, to be more useful. Tlie 



282 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/' 

stranger proved to be a steamer, bound, probably, 
for Hong Kong. She crossed our wake several miles 
distant. 

The following morning, at seven bells, we spoke 
to the U. S. sloop-of-war "Germantown," a sailing 
ship from Shanghai, bound south. They reported 
East Saddle Island as bearing north by west, one 
quarter north, sixteen miles distant. It was blowing 
a good breeze from east northeast. We had been 
close hauled on the starboard tack all night. We 
now kept off half a point and run up our topmaststun- 
sails. At three bells we were off the North Saddle; 
the weather was getting quite thick and the wind was 
much lighter. There was no pilot in sight. We set 
a signal for one as soon as we sighted land. It was 
now four bells and my wheel. 

"It is the first of the ebb tide, sir," said the mate. 

"Yes," replied the captain, "we will take in the 
stunsails, keep her northwest by west, one quarter 
west." 

"Northwest by west, one quarter west, sir,-" I an- 
swered. The yards were then trimmed in. 

"We're on the middle cruising station, Mr. Stover, 
but there is no pilot. We will run on this course 
until GutzlafT Island bears south sixteen miles dis- 
tance by dead reckoning and if we don't fall in with 
a pilot by that time, we will lay the ship to, or come 
to an anchor. We might make the light-ship all 
right, but it is getting so thick we will not run the 
risk, besides we don't know just how the current is 
setting us." 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 283 

The mainsail was clewed up and everything made 
ready to come to quickly, if necessary. Sunday, who 
had the sharpest eyes of any man on board was on 
the lookout. Wilson was in the starboard main chains 
throwing the lead. The second mate, with the rest 
of the crew, was busy getting the anchors over the 
bow, chains shackled on, etc. ; a four-fathom range 
was overhauled for each anchor. The ship's bell was 
rung vigorously every other minute. 

It was a few minutes before noon. We had just 
about run our reckoning up when Sunday cried out : 
"Boat, boat!" 

"Hard-a-port, light up head-sheets, back the main- 
yards," shouted the captain. It was a pilot boat sure 
enough, of about ten tons. 

As he was passing us to the windward, he hailed : 
"Captain likee pilot?" 

"Of course we want a pilot," shouted Mr. Stover, 
"don't you see our signal?" He rounded close up 
under our lee. We threw them a line and they pulled 
up alongside. After a gangway ladder had been 
hung over the side an old weather beaten Chinese 
pilot climbed up on deck. It would have done you 
good to have seen him, especially after a five-months' 
voyage. 

He was dressed in part as a European sailor and 
in part as a Chinese captain. His boat was partly 
decked over; one mast lateen-rigged; the sail was 
fitted with bamboo splints running across from lufif 
to leach, about eighteen inches apart. There were 
ten men on board. 



284 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters." 

After producing- his credentials, which certified that 
he was a Hcensed pilot, the captain gave him charge 
of the ship. Before assuming command, however, he 
said, "Captain likee piece beef." The steward got 
a good sized piece out of the barrel and gave to 
them, saying, "John, what's the news?" 

"No savvy, no savvy," answered a half dozen of 
them at once. They did not even have a newspaper 
of any kind. By this time the pilot had taken charge, 
got his bearings and gave the following orders : 

"F'ill him up, topsail; pull him board maintack; 
keep him 'head, north by west, half west." 

"North by west, half west, sir," I answered. 

"Mate bracee sharp up. Captain likee man to 
steer?" 

"The boy can handle the wheel all right," said the 
captain. 

The pilot shook his head, saying, "No, no likee ; 
man to wheel." 

As it was one bell, Oleson was already on his way 
aft to relieve me. After giving him the course, north 
by west half west, I passed along on the lee side 
of the quarter deck. The pilot said to me : 

"He good boy, but he too little. Sing him out de 
lead," he called out to Chips, who had just relieved 
Wilson in the main chains. Then began the monoton- 
ous song: "And a quarter three, and a half three, a 
quarter less four, by the mark four," etc., which con- 
tinued until we entered the Wu-sung River. The cap- 
tain, mate and pilot then went to dinner. As the 
steward was a little under the weather, I waited on 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 285 

the table for him. The pilot was introduced to Mrs. 
Benjamin. He was very polite. He used a knife and 
fork fairly well and enjoyed the dinner. 

"Pilot, steering for the light-ship?" inquired Mr. 
Stover. 

"Yes, mate," he answered, "light-ship be north by 
west, half west little west, seven miles, got him tide 
'head, wind 'head, sharp up, set him ship to leeward. 
I no like it." 

"Can we cross the bar without tacking?" asked the 
captain. 

"Maybe," he said, "get him Wu-sung River, fair 
wind, fair tide." 

"When will we arrive at Shanghai ?" inquired Mrs. 
Benjamin. 

"Git him Shanghai to-night, ma'am, anchor two 
miles below, no can moor ship flood, moor ship ebb 
tide, to-morrow." 

"A big ship coming down before the wind, sir," 
called out the second mate. 

"Keep him course," shouted the pilot as he ran 
up on deck, "big ship got him fair wind." She proved 
to be the American clipper ship "Surprise," bound 
for New York. We passed each other quickly. 

"Report us all well on board," shouted Captain 
Benjamin. "Aye, aye, sir," came back the answer, 
clear and strong. For fear that they did not get our 
name correctly we run up our burgee to the main 
truck. 



286 Voyage of 'The Two Sisters." 

"I am sorry that we missed this opportunity to 
send letters home," said Mrs. Benjamin. 

"Maskee (never mind)," repHed the pilot, "Boston 
ship sail soon." 

While the second mate and I were at dinner, Mrs. 
Benjamin took a seat by the stove and entered into 
conversation with us. 

"We missed the steward this noon," she remarked, 
"I hope he is not seriously ill." 

"He thought he would be all right by to-morrow, 
ma'am," I said, "it is the first meal that he has 
missed since we left New York." 

"The Yang-tse is a very long river, I believe, 
ma'am," said Mr. Fletcher. 

"I have been studying it up a little lately, sir," said 
Mrs. Benjamin, "and I find that this river ranks first 
in the Old World. It is next to the Amazon and 
the Mississippi. It is by far the most important river 
in China. It rises in Tibet and flows through the 
heart of the Empire; it has been called the girdle 
of China, as it is three thousand miles long in its 
windings. It has many large tributaries. It is known 
by several names : above Tung-ting Lake it takes the 
name of Kin-ho, the golden river, or Kin-shakiang, 
the golden sand river, thence to Hankan or the 
Poyang Lake, the name of Taking, or the Great 
River, while its lower part is called the Yang-tse- 
kiang, or son of the ocean, a name adopted universally 
by foreigners. It is generally known to the people 
as the Kiang, the river par excellence, which name 
it give to three provinces, from its central course 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 287 

through the country and the number of provinces 
through which it passes. It is said to be free from 
falls and rapids. The Yang-tse-Kiang, or Yang-tse, 
as sailors call it for short, has, as you know, a very 
wide estuary, and is divided into two channels, by 
Tsung-ming Island, which is thirty-two miles in 
length, from a west northwest to east southeast direc- 
tion, and from five to ten miles broad, with a popu- 
lation of five hundred thousand. There is a large 
city on it which is not visible from the sea. It is 
stated to be the largest alluvial island in the world, 
although in the fourteenth century it did not exist 
above water." 

"We thank you for all this information, ma'am," 
replied the second mate. "It has been like an hour 
at school, eh Jack?" as he hastened on deck. 

"I might have gone over all of this a number of 
times at school and then not have understood it as 
well as I do now, ma'am," I said. "I suppose we 
entered the river by the south channel ; it is so thick 
that we can't see anything but water." 

"Of course we did," answered Mrs. Benjamin, "we 
came from the south you remember, we took our 
bearings from the North Saddle and GutzlafT Islands, 
besides the north channel is not deep enough for 
European ships, Shanghai is situated on the Wu-sung 
river, about thirteen miles from its mouth." 

As soon as I had cleared away the dinner table I 
called on the steward in his room. "The dinner was 
all right," I said, "I got along with it first rate, but 
my! Steward, you ought to have seen that pilot eat 



Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 



canned turkey and mince pie. He's a jolly good old 
fellow, though. He had me sent away from the 
wheel. He said to the captain, 'Likee man to steer.' 
I was just about to be relieved anyhow, so I didn't 
mind it. He said to me 'He good boy, he too little.' " 

"Perhaps some part of the channel is narrow and 
he thought you could not handle the wheel quite 
quick enough," said the steward, "I want you to 
ask the captain if you can help me out until to-mor- 
row morning. I think I will be all right by that time." 

The captain said, "Yes, Jack, go ahead and assist 
the steward as long as he needs you." The mate 
did not like it, he thought that the steward was well 
enough to do his own work. However, I kept out 
of his way and tried not to offend him. I told the 
second mate all about it, and he said : 

"That's right, Jack, give us a good, hot supper, 
eh ?" I then reported to the steward. He seemed 
pleased. 

"Mr. Stover," he said, "is a good sailor, but if 
he was the captain we would have different times 
on board this ship. Jack. Never mind, if he gets 
sick we will take the very best care of him that we 
can, but during all of the two years and seven months 
that we were shipmates, I never knew him to be laid 
up a day. Tell the cook," continued the steward, 
"to make some hot biscuit, a soft molasses cake, boil 
some rice, warm up the baked beans, have tea and 
chocolate ; you can open a can of beef tongue and 
peaches and tell him not to forget to mix the bread 
for me to-night." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 289 

It was now seven bells, and about slack water. We 
had passed the light-vessel on the starboard hand, half 
a cable distant, and were then opposite the red buoy, 
which marks the entrance of the Wu-sung River. 
This also, we passed on the starboard hand and kept 
off for the little village of Wu-sung, which is situ- 
ated on the left bank of the river, one mile from 
the entrance. All hands were busy stripping the rig- 
ging and yards of chafing gear; the decks were cov- 
ered with it, fore and aft. That which could be used 
again was stopped up, tagged and put away, the re- 
mainder of it was condemned as old junk. A yel- 
low Joss house marked the village of Wu-sung. We 
passed quite near it, also a creek to the south of it, 
which led to the important city of Soochow. On the 
west point of entrance to the river was an old fort, 
in ruins. 

Junks were in evidence, in every direction. A large 
fleet of them was anchored on either side of the chan- 
nel. Others were under way. Some were painted 
in various colors, but most of them were not painted 
at all. They were differently rigged, having from 
one to four masts. The masts were placed, seeming- 
ly wherever it was most convenient, without regard 
to the distance between them. A little farther up we 
passed several English and French warships at 
anchor, along the west edge of the channel. We ex- 
changed greetings with them by dipping our ensign. 

After leaving Pheasant Point we came to the middle 
ground, which is seven miles below Shanghai. We 
passed to the eastward of it and having a fair wind 



290 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters." 

and tide, soon came to anchor two miles below the 
city. It was not safe to anchor among the shipping 
with a flood tide, nor even at slack water. Sampans 
and bomboats hovered around us soliciting trade, but 
according to the rules of the port, no boat was al- 
lowed alongside until the ship had been duly entered 
through the Custom House and an officer sent on 
board. 

In the meantime the cook and I had prepared the 
supper, as the steward directed, and while the sails 
were being furled, I served it. I would much rather 
have been aloft with the men tying up sails, but as 
the captain and the rest at the table enjoyed the 
meal, and I their conversation, I had no reason to 
complain. The fact was, we were all so glad to be 
within sight of Our destination that no one was hard 
to please. The captain decided not to go up to town 
that evening, being too late for business. At four 
bells, everything have been tied up snug, running- 
rigging coiled up, anchor signal-light set about fif- 
teen feet up the forestay, the crew went to supper. 
I had kept everything hot for the second mate. As 
we sat down to supper he inquired about the steward. 

"He is better, sir," I answered. As I was about 
to take him a cup of tea the steward suddenly ap- 
peared on the scene and sat down with us. 

"Good evening, your honor, we will be pleased to 
have you dine with us," said Mr. Fletcher. "You 
are looking better. How are you feeling?" 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 291 

"If you will just hold on a moment and give your- 
self time to breathe," replied the steward, "I will en- 
deavor to inform you concerning the state of my 
health." 

"All right, shipmate, I will make well fast, so 
heave ahead, my hearty," said the second mate. 

"I am much better," continued the steward, "I 
think I will be able to eat my allowance by to-mor- 
row morning. How long are we going to lie here, 
I wonder." 

"Until the ebb tide makes, about noon to-morrow," 
replied Mr. Fletcher. "All night in, to-night, eh, 
Jack? Are we to have coffee in the morning before 
we turn to, to wash down decks?" 

"Sure," said the steward, "Jack, you may tell the 
cook to have coffee ready for all hands at three bells. 
Mr. Fletcher, we will serve you and the mate -^^rith 
coffee any time you want it, but after the ship is 
moored, the crew will not get any before breakfast, 
they will probably just as soon have an extra half 
hour in their bunks." 

It was very quiet on deck and everything looked 
strange enough. Sails all furled, no orders being given, 
no one hurrying here and there, the almost constant 
inquiry, both day and night, for the last five months, 
"How do you head?" had ceased, quiet reigned fore 
and aft. After I had finished my work for the even- 
ing, I went forward intending to have a little chat 
with the cook. Just as I had seated myself in the 
galley, however, Sunday entered, bringing his "Illus- 
trated Life of Christ." He and the cook had been 



292 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

endeavoring to teach each other, and you would have 
been surprised to know how well they had succeeded. 
They used me from time to time as a referee. I helped 
them the best I knew how. The second mate came 
forward to set the anchor watch. As he was passing 
by the galley, he looked in upon us. 

"Hello, missionary meeting, eh, Jack?" he said. 
It was our last meeting together, although neither 
of us knew it at that time. Sunday was quite anxious 
concerning his future. He understood what the cap- 
tain's plans were, but he seemed to doubt that the}'- 
would be carried out. We told him that he could 
remain on board the "Two Sisters" as long as he 
liked and the captain would pay him wages. 

"No, no," he said, "a gun-boat. His chief thought 
and ambition was to run down pirates. He did not 
wish to be carried to any port of the Western world. 

After breakfast, the next morning, the steward re- 
sumed his duties again, as usual. The captain went 
up to the city with the ship's papers, bills-of-lading, 
etc., leaving the "Two Sisters" in charge of the pilot 
and first mate. The pilot's duties were not completed 
until the ship was moored securely off the city. The 
crew were kept busy cleaning up ship. I was de- 
tailed to help Mrs. Benjamin in the after-cabin, mak- 
ing it tidy. 

"Jack," she said, "I find that this river has taken 
its name from the small village of Wu-sung, which 
we passed yesterday afternoon. This river is sixty 
miles in length. It flowes from Lake Tienshan, 
through which is a water communication with the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 293 

grand canal leading northward to the large city of 
Soochow and southward to Hang-chu-fu. It is navi- 
gable its whole length and opens up a direct com- 
munication to the sea for hundreds of miles of ter- 
ritory. European ships, however, do not ascend the 
river above Shanghai. Jack, that will do for this 
time. I will tell you more about the country and its 
people another day. I think that we have made 
the cabin look real nice and cozy. We may have 
some callers when the ship gets up to the city." 

"That's a fact, ma'am," I replied, "everything looks 
fine on deck and aloft. The pilot says, 'Evely thing 
lookee g'ood, muchee work.' " I then reported to 
Mr. Stover that the steward and Mrs. Benjamin did 
not need my services any longer for the present and 
that I was ready for duty again on deck. 

"Well, I haven't any use for you," he said in an 
unpleasant tone of voice. I remembered what Mrs. 
Benjamin told me the first part of the voyage and 
said nothing; but as I turned away from him I 
thought, "Never mind, the second mate has, if you 
haven't." 

It was now seven bells. The tide had made ebb, 
the wind was light but fair. "Git him ship under 
way," ordered the pilot. "Man the windlass," shouted 
the mate. After heaving up the anchor, the topsail- 
yards were hoisted. While this work was going on we 
sang, heartily, three jolly old shanties, which I en- 
joyed very much. We got under way and sailed up 
to the town under fore and maintopsails, jib and 



294 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

spanker, and came to anchor off French town, as it 
was called. 

At three P. M., February 20, 1859, the ship was 
moored in the following manner: Ninety fathoms 
of chain were payed out on the first anchor, then 
the second anchor was let go, and while heaving 
in forty-five fathoms on the first, forty-five fathoms 
were payed out on the second. Thus one anchor laid 
ahead forty-five fathoms and the other forty-five 
fathoms astern so that when the tide turned the ship 
would always swing within her own length. To pre- 
vent the two cables from getting twisted they were 
connected at the water's edge by means of a large 
shackle, fitted with a swivel. 

Then Mr. Stover signed a certificate for the pilot 
to the effect that the "Two Sisters" had been safely 
brought into port and moored properly by the pilot, 
Mr. Hop Lee. The pilot took the paper and, accord- 
ing to the pilot laws of the port, was discharged, 
by this act. "Likee captain's name," he said, "Mas- 
kee, I get 'im on shore." After bidding us good-bye, 
he took his departure. The sails were then furled 
snug with harbor gaskets. Our voyage from New 
York to Shanghai was ended. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 295 



Chapter XII. 

Si 9^ontb in tfie Port at ^fianfffiai 

The captain, with several gentlemen, came on board 
at two P. M., also the customs officer. After looking 
about the ship a few minutes, the captain invited 
them into the cabin and introduced them to Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. After a few pleasant remarks they all went 
on shore, excepting the officer, who was to be on 
board every day, from sunrise to sunset, until the 
cargo was discharged. 

There were a large number of sampans crowding 
around the gangway, the boys all calling out loudly to 
the captain for patronage. At the same time each of 
them exhibited a string of recommendations a yard 
long or more. It was impossible to choose one from 
among them as superior in any respect to the others. 
Every boat was as bright and clean as a whistle and 
was skillfully handled in the tideway. At length the 
captain selected one from the outside edge of the 
crowd, manned by a bright looking little fellow, 
whose boat had been crowded off just a little, 
though they all appeared to be fair with each other. 
When it was known what boat had been selected, 
they all shouted out the boy's name, "Lang Su, Lang 
Su," and dispersed, leaving Lang Su the right of way 
to the gangway. 

"How muchee, Lang?" asked the captain as he 
appeared on the deck. 



296 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"Ten dollar month, me cookee rice, likee sampan, 
captain." 

"All right, Lang, ten dollar month," said the cap- 
tain. So Lang Su was duly hired to tend the ship 
day and night if necessary for ten Mexican dollars 
per month and board himself, as "me cookee rice," 
implied, but these boys really expected and generally 
did get their living from the galley. 

Market boats, store keepers, laundrymen, tailors, 
and bomboats crowded around the gangways on 
either side. After the captain had engaged one of 
the marketmen to furnish the ship with meat, vege- 
tables, etc., he and Mrs. Benjamin went on shore to 
make some calls, having several letters of introduc- 
tion. The stunsails were unbent, the gear sent down 
and put away. All the running gear except the 
braces was stopped up snug, up and down the shrouds. 

The port warden came on board during the after- 
noon. The hatches were taken ofl and everything 
found satisfactory. The lashings were taken off the 
big sticks of timber which we had on deck. It was 
found that they had not moved an inch since we left 
New York. The captain and Mrs. Benjamin returned 
at three bells. After supper, while the captain was 
taking a walk on deck, Mrs. Benjamin told me that 
the ship "Snow Squall" would sail for Boston some 
time the following week. 

"You had better write all your letters to-morrow. 
Jack, and have them ready. This ship will take mail 
for all parts of the United States. Jack, you must 
not be disappointed if the captain should charter the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 297 

"Two Sisters" for a year, to run between China and 
Japan. You need not mention it in your letters, as 
it will not be decided for a week or two yet. I 
must confess I had rather that the captain would 
charter for some Atlantic port of the United States, 
but never mind. Jack, a year is only one day at a 
time. It will soon pass away. Probably we would 
be in port more than half of the time. Jack," she con- 
tinued, "I suppose that the men will go on shore 
to-morrow, as it is Sunday. I hope that they will 
conduct themselves properly." 

After breakfast, the following morning, M'rs. Benja- 
min told me that she and the captain were going on 
shore to attend church, after which they were invited to 
dine at the home of the xA.merican Consul, and woixld not 
return until late afternoon, and as it was a beautiful day 
they anticipated a pleasant time. 

All hands were given liberty to go and come as they 
chose, through the day, but were ordered to be on board 
by eight bells, evening. Wilson, Chips, Sam and John- 
son came on board to dinner. They reported having had 
a good time ; had met some old shipmates and were going 
to visit ships in the harbor in the afternoon in search of 
others. I inquired about the rest of the crew. Wilson 
shook his head but said nothing. 

"Sure, I know I'm me brother's kaper, but what will 
ye bay after doin', Jack, me boy, when yeer brothers 
won't be kaped?" said Chips. 

"Ye needn't have to tell the old woman habout hit, 
Jack, but the land sharks 'ave got 'old of 'em," said Sam. 

"Perhaps you will get a chance to help them on board 
this afternoon," I replied. 



298 Voyage of '"The Two Sisters/"" 

"Sure, we'll lind 'em a hand if we falls in with thim, 
Jack, but it's myne opinion ye'll niver say thim on board 
the 'Two Sisters' again," said Chips. I was very sorry 
to hear all this about my shipmates. They had all been 
good to me and I had become attached to them. After 
dinner, Mr. Stover, the steward and cook went on shore. 
I assisted the steward in getting off, and Sunday, who 
was by this time a first class cook's mate, took charge of 
the galley. 

A little event occurred a few minutes after eight bells 
that morning, which I should not fail to mention. We 
had just dressed the "Two Sisters" up fore and aft in 
all the bunting that we could muster. Our code of sig- 
nals were displayed to the best advantage. Our pennant 
was set at the main truck over the burgee. This pennant 
was very long, reaching below the mainyard, and when 
straightened out its full length was very conspicuous. An 
English frigate was lying near us, whose commander 
was the senior officer in port, and who immediately sent 
a boat alongside in charge of a young midshipman. He 
requested the first officers of the "Two Sisters" to haul 
down the pennant, which, according to the rules of the 
port, warships only were allowed to fly. By this time 
Mr. Stover had become quite indignant. 

"What!" he said, "Haul down the flag, Mr. Officer? 
I want you to understand that this is an American ship 
and we are flying a United States pennant, and I don't 
propose to haul it down." 

"I understand all the facts of the case," replied the 
officer, "but it is according to the laws of the port, sir. It 
is not our pleasure to board an American ship and haul 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 299 

down an American flag, but according to my orders the 
flag must come down." 

The second mate and I were standing near by; the 
case was getting serious. We wondered how it would 
end. Captain Benjamin, hearing the loud talking, came 
on deck to investigate, and finding a boat from the war- 
ship alongside, said: 

''Good morning, Mr. Officer, what's the trouble?" 

When the captain learned the facts, he did not regard 
the request of the Englishman as disrespectful to the 
American flag, but turned the whole matter into a pleas- 
ant joke. 

"Mr. Fletcher, you and Jack had better haul down the 
pennant," he said, "we will not provoke a bloody war 
between the United States and Great Britain. We can 
fly it as long as we choose when we get to Liverpool, if 
we cannot here at Shanghai. The fact is, Mr. Ofiicer, 
our mate is a towny of yours, but, as you have observed, 
no doubt, he has become thoroughly Americanized, sir," 
said the captain. 

"His patriotism is not according to knowledge, sir," 
replied the officer. 

"I agree with you," said the captain in an undertone, 
which the mate did not hear as he had become disgusted 
and had retired to his room. The officer had been very 
courteous, all through the episode, and, after exchanging 
a few remarks with Captain Benjamin, he and his crew 
pulled away for their ship. 

I had finished my afternoon's work and was on deck 
observing the walled city, the European towns, and the 
shipping. The second mate had been giving the customs 



300 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

officer an account of our voyage. The officer, after com- 
menting on it and expressing his satisfaction with the 
way that we had handled the pirates, said: 

"That Malay chap, Sunday, would make a valuable 
man for the service in the vicinity of Singapore. Per- 
haps you and the boy would like to hear something about 
Shanghai and its surroundings." 

"Well, I reckon we would," said the second mate. 
"Come along, Jack." 

"The city, proper," said the officer, "is oblong in shape, 
one mile in length and one-half mile in breadth, sur- 
rounded by a high wall, which you can see. It is bounded 
on the north by a creek, and on the south by the European 
concessions. The Europeans consist chiefly of English, 
American and French, (all white people are classed as 
Europeans), who had previously purchased land, and 
having congregated together according to their nationali- 
ties, have erected substantial business places, large ware- 
houses, handsome residences and churches, along the bank 
of the river, extending from the walled city several miles 
below. According to the treaty of Tientsin, 1858, all of 
this land was conceded to the English, French and Amer- 
icans, with the privilege of purchasing as much more, 
the Government giving absolute right and title forever. 
This concession is divided into three districts or towns, 
so called, Frenchtown, Englishtown and Americantown. 
In going up the river we first come to Americantown. sit- 
uated on the right bank, next we come to Englishtown 
and from thence to Frenchtown, which extends to the 
walled city north of it. The Soochow creek separates 
Americantown from Englishtown. They are connected 
by bridges. These districts have a population of five 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 301 

thousand Europeans and about one hundred thousand 
Chinese, the greater part of whom hve in the suburbs. 
The towns are beautifully situated, as you will observe, 
along the river bank, with a wide, spacious quay in front, 
indented here and there with little slips. Englishtown 
is the largest and most important. All the foreign con- 
sulates are located there. The exact position of the Brit- 
ish Consulate is in latitude 31 degrees 14 minutes north, 
longitude 121 degrees 26 minutes, or eight hours five 
minutes, forty-five seconds east of Greenwich. The ship- 
ping, which lies along the front of the towns, always pre- 
sents a very picturesque appearance, as you see today. 
One can see the ensigns of all nations displayed. Shang- 
hai has always been a great center of trade. It is said 
to have once stood on the seashore. Its name implies, 
'upon the sea.' It is now twenty-five miles from the 
coast." 

"How is it, sir," inquired Mr. Fletcher, that the Chi- 
nese do not have charge of the port and collect their own 
dues ?" 

"Well, I'll tell 3^ou, sir," replied the officer, "according 
to the last treaty, the English Government agreed for 
a special percentage of the dues collected to take charge 
of the port, which extends from Shanghai to Wu-sung, 
and assist the Imperial Government to protect it against 
inward or outward foes, to gather up custom receipts, har- 
bor fees, etc. Hence all the officers of the port are Eu- 
ropeans. There are a few old time Chinese pilots on the 
river yet, but as fast as they retire their places will be 
filled by Englishmen or Americans. A pilot boat is now 
on the way from New York. There is also a towboat 
about to be shipped from England, which will be put 



302 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

together here, and will be ready for use by next October. 
There is only one drydock here, but it is large enough to 
take in any ship that can get up the river. It is con- 
trolled by an American, a New York man. A gun is fired 
at exact noon from the senior warship in port, preceded 
by a red and white swallow-tailed flag, displayed at the 
fore truck. There are about thirty ships in port, of dif- 
ferent nationalities, including seven warships, three Eng- 
lish, two French, one Russian and one Spanish." 

"We met the U. S. sloop-of-war 'Germantown,' bound 
south, just before we sighted the Saddle Islands," in- 
terrupted the second mate. 

"Yes," continued the officer, "she is the only American 
warship on the coast, at present. You see those large 
junks which are painted so grotesquely, having great 
eyes carved on either bow, moored here and there among 
the foreign shipping? They are all Ning-pu junks. Those 
large eyes serve them very well at anchor, Jack," he said, 
"but when they get under way, they find that they need 
a man at the helm, like other vessels. Some of the sam- 
pans you see have eyes on each bow. They are manned 
by Ning-pu boys. You notice that great fleet of con- 
demned junks, all huddled together up the river there, 
moored abreast the walled city. Their old masts look 
like a forest. There are thousands of people who were 
born, brought up and still live on these junks. 1 have 
been here for ten years, during which time that fleet has 
never diminished, but has steadily increased. The sani- 
tary conditions among them are fearful. The Europeon 
authorities are now endeavoring to have them removed, 
as they endanger the health of the port. Mr. Fletcher," 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 303 

said the officer, "how are you going to get these great 
sticks of timber on shore, sir?" 

''Don't know," answered the second mate, ''but we will 
tell you tomorrow how we will get rid of them, sir." 

The sampan business was very good, especially on 
Sundays. I enjoyed watching them as they darted hither 
and thither among the shipping. They were all dressed 
up in bunting. Our sampan flew the tmion jack at the 
bow, a Chinese streamer amidships, and the stars and 
stripes displayed gracefully over the stern. Every ship 
was tended by one or more of these boats, and there were 
always several of them sculling to and fro within call. 

When the anchor watch was set that evening, Oleson, 
Hanson, Fred and Carl were missing. The watch was 
from eight P. M. to five A. M., and divided into six di- 
visions. I took the first. The cook was called at five 
A. M. When we had a full crew I was never called on 
to stand anchor watch. The custom officer, after sealing 
up the hatches, etc., went on shore at sundown. On the 
following morning the four men were still missing. We 
never saw them again, at least I never did. I have often 
thought of the last time that I met them. How strong 
they were, in their own strength. I am sure they will 
never forget it. 

A Chinese stevedore, with a large gang of coolies, was 
on hand at six bells, sharp, to begin the work of discharg- 
ing the cargo. Mr. Stover and Mr. Fletcher, however, 
were to superintend the work of getting the sticks of tim- 
ber overboard. The one on the port side was put over 
first. It was slipped along on heavy skids until it was 
close up to the rail, then the yards were braced up sharp 
to the port. The fore and main rigging on the port side 



304 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

was then come up with and the lanyards tmroved. Lang, 
with his sampan, patrolled that side of the ship to pre- 
vent boats from slipping up under the big sticks and be- 
ing crushed. Everything was then ready, and with one 
extra effort it was rolled over the side. As it struck the 
water it caused quite a tidal wave, which nearly filled 
Lang's sampan. The port rigging was then set up, tem- 
porarily, after which the big stick on the starboard side 
was disposed of in like manner. 

The second mate and crew then turned to, to set up 
the rigging properly. A lighter came alongside and the 
stevedore got his men at work discharging the cargo. 
There was not any purchase used, it was all done by hand. 
The lighters were large, flat bottomed boats and carried 
fifty tons of cargo each. With the exception of a short 
space, fore and aft, they were arched over with a turtle- 
back deck of light material. They were propelled in the 
same manner as a little sampan, but on a larger scale. 
They had only one large oar, or rather sweep, which they 
sculled on the head of a steel bolt, one of which is placed 
on either side of the stern. A little socket is made in the 
sweep, about an inch and a half deep. The sweep is 
shipped on the top of the steel bolt, the bolt entering 
the socket. It thus hangs as on a pivot, with the longest 
part over the stern. The inboard part of the sweep has 
a curvature, on the end of which is fitted a lanyard, made 
fast to the deck near the waist. It takes a half dozen 
men or more to handle one of these sweeps. Two or three 
of them pull back and forth on the lanyard, while the 
others are pulling- and pushing on the sweep. 

That evening the captain ordered me to call the men 
aft, including the cook. He addressed himself to the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 305 

officers and men, stating that if he chartered to run on 
the coast, their voyage would be ended as soon as the 
cargo was discharged, and if they desired it he would 
pay them off; but if they wished to remain by the ship, 
he would be glad to re-ship them and pay them coasting 
wages, which was three times as much as they were then 
getting. All hands were satisfied with the conditions 
"and agreed to stay by the ship. 

"Men," said the captain, in the presence of the offi- 
cers, "if you can locate Oleson and the others, send their 
chests on shore. It will be of no benefit to the ship to 
confiscate them. They are good sailor men, and if they 
had let rum alone, no doubt, they would have been with 
us yet. You can tell them for me that a berth is open 
for them on the 'Two Sisters' at any time. I remember 
that when those pirates were under our bow in the Strait 
of Malacca, we had only one common interest at stake, 
that of helping each other to save ourselves, and I de- 
clare to you, gentlemen," he continued, turning to Mr. 
Stover and the second mate, and steward, "I would be 
glad to pay what is due them if they will come and re- 
ceive it." The men then went forward. 

"I think we can trust these fellows," said the captain 
as he went below. 

"I wouldn't trust any of them," muttered the mate. 
"I'm not in the business of trusting sailors. What, be 
glad to pay them their wages after they have taken 
French leave and send their chests on shore ! If they 
had me to deal with, they wouldn't get a rag. Boy, what 
are you loafing about here for?" as though I was respon- 
sible for all the captain had said. "Get out the anchor 
light and set it." 



3o6 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. The second mate, al- 
though the mate had addressed him, made no comment. 

One day, during the week, the gentleman who con- 
trolled the dry dock, came on board and took dinner with 
Captain and Mrs. Benjamin. He said that he was a 
towny of mine, and had known me at home. I did not 
recognize him, however. We decided afterward that 
it was my brother whom he had known at home. 

On the afternoon of the following Sunday I was per- 
mitted to go on shore by myself. I was supplied with 
a lot of cash for spending money. These coins are 
small copper coins, with a hole through the center. They 
are of different value, according to their weight. Those 
that I had, were equal to about one mill each. They are 
strung on a cord made of straw, one hundred in a bunch, 
divided into four or five links. A link can be easily 
broken from the bunch without interfering with the re- 
maining links. Silver Mexican dollars were the coins 
used generally in all of the ports of the coast open to 
Europeans. 

Lang took me on shore, but it was understood that I 
was to hire a boy to bring me on board. As we lay 
abreast the French concession I was supposed to walk 
about in that town only, and to visit the English and 
American settlements at a future time. I did not come 
across anything new or strange to me. I met only a few 
European citizens on the streets. I did, however, fall in 
with several bands of drunken sailors of different nation- 
alities. The Chinese people made haste to keep out of 
their way, and I also gave them as wide a berth as pos- 
sible. "Well," I thought, "the town is beautifully laid 
out and there are some nice looking buildings here, and 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 307 

the shipping in the river looks grand, the 'Two Sisters' 
the most gallant among them, but I did not come to China 
simply to see all this. I want to see something strange 
and w^onderful. I think that I will keep off and head for 
Shanghai, the walled city." 

I soon came up to one of the gates. I then hove to 
for a while to get my bearings. The walls were about 
seventy feet in height, eight or ten feet up were port- 
holes, from which big guns were pointed in every di- 
rection. There were four gates at this entrance, made of 
wood and about twenty feet high, ten feet wide, and four 
feet thick, covered with some kind of metal. They were 
supported by massive columns. There were also inner 
gates two feet in thiclcness. All of these gates were wide 
open. 

The great Taping rebellion was going on, and the 
rebels were within twenty-five miles of the city. They 
had many sympathizers among the Europeans, and it 
was not considered safe for a foreigner to be found alone 
within the city walls, as he might be taken and executed 
as a spy for the insurgents; but as I did not know any- 
thing about all this at that time, it did not deter me in 
the least. While T was standing by one of the inner 
gates, observing everything about me, a lad of about 
eighteen years hailed me and came alongside. 

"Likee go in see?" he inquired. 

"I reckon I would. How muchee cash, pilot?" He 
informed me that one link (about two and one-half cents) 
would pay the bill. • So the bargain was made and we got 
under way. 

As I did not know just what to steer for, and my pilot 
did not appear to care, I simply followed him. We sailed 



3o8 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

along together fairly well for a time ; then I to6k an ob- 
servation, and after reckoning up I found, sure enough, 
that I was in China and a Chinese city. Everything was 
different from anything I had ever seen, and looked 
strangely old and uninviting. 

Some of the streets were only Tour feet wide. The 
walls of the buildings on either side apparently meeting 
each other at the top, shutting out most of the sunlight 
and fresh air. They were dark, loathsome alleys. Now 
and then I would come up against a horrible looking idol, 
staring straight at me from a corner or niche in the wall 
of some building. These streets were so narrow that 
you were compelled to crowd close up to a building, in 
order to let a sedan chair pass by. I met several of these 
chairs, manned by four coolies each. They were general- 
ly occupied by one male or two females. One of these 
conveyances, having two ladies on board, came abreast 
of me. We were so near together that a collision could 
not be prevented. This did not seem to disturb the occu- 
pants in the least; they looked me over from head to 
foot with great surprise, apparently. One of them put 
her hand on my shoulder and said something in Chinese, 
which my pilot interpreted, "Good warship boy." They 
got their impression that I belonged to the navy from 
the fact that I wore my shore coat, which was fitted with 
brass buttons. These ladies knew, as did all the inhabi- 
tants of the city, that their safety depended on the for- 
eign warships in the harbor, as the Imperial forces were 
not strong enough to hold the rebels in check. 

After getting under way again, the pilot ordered me to 
tack ship and steer for Frenchtown. I objected. He 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 309 

then demanded another Hnk of cash. I refused, where- 
upon he deserted me and left me to paddle my own canoe. 
I then proceeded cautiously. I passed through some 
streets which looked fairly well, being about eighteen feet 
in width, paved from side to side. They were crowded 
with men and children. I met only a few women on 
foot. It was very difficult for them to walk with their 
small feet. I noticed that some were using two canes. 
None of them wore hats, but their hair was rigged up 
in great style and really looked well. 

The wealthy men were easily recognized from the 
working classes, not by their apparel alone, for a work- 
ing man, even though he were dressed in silk and satin, 
would still be known by his fingernails. The wealthy al- 
low their nails to grow long. They are carefully pre- 
served and protected, and after growing a certain length 
they are turned under. Some protect their nails by 
wearing gold or silver tips. No person can perform 
manual labor without breaking them, hence a poor man 
makes no pretension to long nails. 

I saw several spacious squares, laid out in front of 
Joss houses, or temples. These buildings at first sight 
appeared grand and beautiful, but the idols which were 
exhibited along their balconies were such uncomely, hide- 
ous-looking things, that they marred the beauty, viewed 
from a Christian standpoint. These squares were densely 
crowded with men. I could only make out a boy or two. 
All the crowd was engaged in worship, and like the 
Ephesians of old, were not quiet in their devotions. 
Many waved banners, covered with Chinese characters, 
very elaborate and beautiful. Others waved Joss sticks, 



3IO Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

which were gilded or highly polished or otherwise dec- 
orated, while some were burning Joss paper in little 
spaces reserved for that purpose. 

No one said anything to me or molested me in any 
way. I got mixed up in the crowds several times, and 
unless they had given way a little for me, I would hardly 
have extricated myself. No doubt but that my brass 
buttons served me again, yet I was as unconscious of the 
fact, as the buttons themselves. After backing and filling 
for a time I sailed into the general market-place. Here 
all was bustle and business; sellers on the lookout for 
customers, and customers for bargains. I looked in vain 
for rats and mice and such like, for at home I had been 
told that the Chinese were fond of them. I did see, how- 
ever, some fine poultry, a great number of pigs, of all 
sizes, and mutton. Beef appeared to be scarce. Eggs 
and rice were abundant. There were all kinds of fruits 
and vegetables, sweet potatoes and yams. I did not see 
any white potatoes. Really this market was the one re- 
deeming feature of the city, as I saw it that afternoon. 
I noticed that all the produce and supplies of every kind 
came from the same direction. I soon learned the fact 
that all the gates, on every side of the city, were closed 
except the one which I had entered. I thought it strange, 
but did not then know the reason for it. 

I was aware that the gate which I had entered would 
be closed at sunset, and as the sun was getting low I im- 
mediately made for that exit. I soon found, however, 
that I had lost my reckoning. As I knew that the sun 
always spoke the truth, I took an observation and lo- 
cated the Wu-sung River. I then proceeded under full 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 311 

sail. As the streets were not laid out for my special bene- 
fit, I found that it was impossible for me to lay my course. 
At length I came into a street which had a gradual ascent. 
I remembered that the inner walls were backed up with 
solid earth and that there were streets leading up to the 
top of them. I then took courag^e and sailed on. To my 
great delight the top of the walls was soon in sight. 
When I came up alongside of them I found that they 
were several feet above my head. I espied, however, a 
short distance away, a big gun. I at once made for it, 
and in coming up to it I found a port hole, and looking 
out at once determined my exact position. 

A beautiful panorama was spread out before me. The 
European towns, the river and the shipping, in their holi- 
day attire, extending far and wide. All were enveloped 
in the giory of an Eastern sunset. The tops of the build- 
ings and the mast-heads of the shipping were tipped with 
gold and crimson. The different colored flags of many 
nations waved in the breeze. It was, indeed, a magnifi- 
cent view, and I was tempted to tarry, but as the sun was 
sinking fast, I continued on my way. I soon made the 
gateway, and as I passed out, the great gates were closed 
with a clang. I tarried just a moment or two and no- 
ticed the needle eyes in the two gates, only large enough 
to admit one person at once. I was reminded of the 
passage in St. Luke, XVIII 125. I was very thankful that 
I was on the outside of them. I then kept away for the 
"Two Sisters," under all the muslin that I could carry. 

As the tide was running ebb, I hailed a sampan quite 
a distance up the river, above the ship, in order to make 
better time. "How muchee, John?" I inquired, as I en- 
deavored to point out the "Two Sisters." 



312 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"Two linkee cash/'' he said, "Lilo, hlo," (come, come.) 
It was half an hour after sunset when I arrived on 
board. All hands were glad to see me back again. Even 
Mr. Stover seemed pleased, although he was inclined to 
growl a little, which was perfectly natural for him. The 
captain had just come on deck, and was about to send 
the second mate and Wilson on shore in search of me. 
While he was taking a walk, in company with his cigar, 
I related to M^s. Benjamin my adventures of the after- 
noon. That, as I did not find anything strange or won- 
derful about Frenchtown, I ventured into the walled city ; 
about my pilot, the gates and streets ; what the lady said 
to me ; about the temples and idols, the market-place, top 
of the walls, etc. ; also about the gentry with their long 
nails and the women with their small feet and fancy head- 
dress. 

"Jack," she said, "You have told me much more about 
the city than I have heard before. I wish I could have 
been with you, but it would not have been safe." 

"Why, ma'am, no one interfered with me in any way." 

"Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise," she 
replied, "none of us supposed that you would dare ven- 
ture inside the wall, consequently we failed to warn you." 
She then told me of the great rebellion in the country and 
how near the insurgents were to Shanghai, and the un- 
rest and suspicion of the people within the city walls. 

"I am glad, ma'am, that I knew nothing about the 
political situation. If I had, I would have lost this af- 
ternoon's experience. Perhaps I may never have the op- 
portunity to see so much of the city again." 

"I think," she said, "from what I have heard, that the 
state of affairs is very perplexing. They tell me that 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 313 

England and France are about to commence hostilities 
against the Imperial Government at Pekin, and yet, not- 
withstanding this, they are assisting the Imperial troops 
here under the command of General Gordon, an English 
officer, to protect Shanghai and keep the port open to 
foreign commerce, according to the last treaty. There 
are a large number of Europeans here who are in sym- 
pathy with the insurgents and are aiding them, as much 
as possible. So you see. Jack, it was not safe for you 
to be wandering around in the city. Perhaps your age 
and the brass buttons on your coat prevented anyone 
from injuring you. The Europeans are, however, com- 
paratively safe under the gims of the warships." 

During the week we got some letters off for New York, 
by the ship "N. G. Palmer." Writing home, and think- 
ing of loved ones there, and of the fact that we would 
probably charter to remain on the coast for a year or 
more, caused a homesick feeling to come over me. How- 
ever, Mrs. Benjamin helped me out, as she always did 
whenever anything went wrong with me. 

All hands had been busy overhauling the standing 
rigging, and repairing sails. About two-thirds of the 
cargo had been discharged. It was Saturday. We had 
been in port fifteen days. The captain came on board 
late in the afternoon. 

"Mr. Stover," he said. "I have chartered the 'Two 
Sisters' for one year to run between this port and Japan. 
After we get our cargo discharged we will take in ballast, 
also take a supercargo and some specie on board, and sail 
for Nagasaki. It is rather risky navigating among those 
islands. There is not a pilot or light, beacon or buoy or 
anything of the kind." 



314 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/' 

"Well, sir, we will have to act as our own surveyors," 
replied Mr. Stover. "Our charts are not very specific in 
regard to the approaches of the harbors of Japan." 

"They locate the different islands, and that is about 
all," replied the captain, "our charter party will furnish 
us with the surveys made by the United States Squadron 
under Commodore Perry in 1853-4, which are fairly cor- 
rect, as far as they go. Her Majesty's ship 'Roebuck,' 
is about to begin some extensive surveys among these 
islands. I understand that there is an able corps of sur- 
veyors on board. But their work will not be of any serv- 
ice to us this year. I have made arrangements with the 
American and British Consuls, also with the English 
Admiral, who has agreed to take Sunday on board the 
flagship and allow him to get a thorough training, after 
which he will be sent South. The Admiral told me that 
Europeans had never been successful in hunting down the 
Ad^alay pirates, and that Sunday was one of the men the}'' 
had been looking for, whom they could trust after being 
trained for the service. "Jack," continued the captain, 
"tell Sunday we may send him aboard the flagship to- 
morrow, and that they will teach him how to shoot big 
guns and handle small arms, and then send him after the 
pirates." 

Sunday did not receive the news as joyfully as I had 
expected, but appeared down-hearted. To get on board 
of an English war vessel was just what Sunday had been 
anticipating, but as he had become used to the "Two 
Sisters," and attached to us all, he dreaded to make the 
change. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 315 

"Well, Steward," said the second mate at the supper 
table that evening, "I hope that Sunday will prove a suc- 
cess on board of the flagship." 

"The cook will miss him," replied the steward, "more 
than anyone else. His life has been quite romantic, so 
far. T would like to hear from him five years from now, 
but I suppose we will soon lose run of him. I wish the 
chap well, and that's the truth. I expect to be on old 
Long Island in five months from today. I will give the 
"Two Sisters" one hundred and twenty days to make the 
run home, and that will leave us a month to get away 
from Shanghai." 

"Well," replied Mr. Fletcher. "Man proposes, but 
God disposes, you will have to quit the 'Two Sisters' in 
order to carry out your plans. She will get away to sea 
inside of a month, sure enough, but we will not sail in 
the direction of Long Island, for the captain has just 
chartered her for a year for the Japan trade. 

"Is that the fact, Jack?" 

"I heard the captain tell you and Mr. Stover, sir, all 
about it when he came on board just before supper," 

"That completely shivers my timbers from main truck 
to keelson," said the steward. "I think I heard you say, 
Mr. Sfecond Mate, that wherever you happened to have 
a good berth, that was your home, and it's the same with 
the old man, wherever the old woman is, that's his home, 
but we are not old shell-backs, eh. Jack ? Old Brookhaven 
is our home and I feel a kind of drawing that way." 

"I think Jack's mother ought to see him again before 
he gets grown-up," replied the second mate, "but in your 



3i6 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

case, Mr. Steward, if we can only keep you warm and sup- 
ply you with plenty of grub, I reckon that you will sur- 
vive all of the hardships and disappointments that you 
are anticipating." 

"I am greatly obliged to you, Admiral," retorted the 
steward, "for your kind regards respecting my future 
happiness." 

After supper Mrs. Benjamin called me into the after- 
cabin. "Jack," she said, "the captain will send you on 
board the flagship in the morning with a letter for the 
chaplain. I wish to see that gentleman and have a talk 
with him respecting Sunday." 

The Sabbath was clear to partly cloudy. After wash- 
ing decks, shining up the brass work, etc., all of our 
bunting was made ready to run up, our ensign and mast- 
head flags were rolled up and stopped with a slipknot and 
sent aloft; and at the very moment the flagship gave the 
signal for eight bells, the slipknots were hauled out from 
the decks and instantly the flags were unfurled and spread 
out in the breeze. We could not arrange all of our col- 
ors in that manner. Some were joined together and sent 
up in a string, as it were. 

After breakfast the captain ordered me to dress up 
in my shore clothes, as I was to take a letter on board 
the flagship. I was very glad of the opportunity, as I had 
never even been alongside of a warship. Mr. Stover 
seemed quite anxious that I should make a good appear- 
ance and conduct myself in a shipshape manner. He in- 
structed me as to which side of the ship I should 
board, how to salute the oflicer who would meet me at 
the gangway; that after presenting my letter, I should 
remain standing there until I received an answer, unless 
I was invited to look about the ship. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



ov 



Lang had made his sampan ready for the occasion, 
flags were set, etc. After some necessary instruction 
from the captain I set out. As I sat back in the com- 
fortable seat under the bamboo covering of Lang's boat 
and ordered him to scull me to the port gangway of the 
flagship, I really thought myself quite important. When 
coming up alongside of the big ship, a sentinel ordered 
Lang to keep off. I then presented myself in full view 
from under the bamboo covering. The sentinel tiien 
said, "All right, come on." 

When I reached the deck I saluted the officer, accord- 
ing to direction, saying, "Good morning, sir," and pre- 
sented my letter. The officer returned my salutation and 
inquired if I wished an answer. I told him I did. He 
then whistled up a young fellow who was decked out 
with a more elaborate set of brass buttons than mine. The 
officer handed him the letter, saying, "An answer is re- 
quired." In a few moments the same young "middy'" 
returned, saluted the officer, saying : "The Admiral wishes 
to see the visitor, sir." I was ordered to follow. 

Now, I had never been in the presence of so great a 
man as a British Admiral, and as Mr. Stover's instruc- 
tions in naval etiquette did not take me beyond the offi- 
cer of the deck, I did not know just how to conduct my- 
self. As I was ushered into his presence, I did not even 
venture to say "Good morning," I simply stood before 
him and saluted, which I afterward learned was the 
proper thing to do. He acknowledged my salutation, 
and said, "Good morning, my lad." When I saw that 
he saluted me, just as the officers of the deck did, and 
heard his cheery "Good morning," I was inspired with 



3i8 Voyage of "The Two Sisters. ■'■' 

confidence. Supposing him to be "Lord Admiral Some- 
body," I said: 

"Good morning-, My Lord Admiral, Sir." 

Lie smiled and said, pleasantly, "Good morning, sir; 
is quite sufficient for a Yankee lad. You do not have any 
use for Lords, Dukes and Earls over in New York, do 
you?" 

"They are always very highly honored, sir, when they 
visit us," I replied. 

"That's right, my lad," he said, "but really there is 
only one Lord, over and above us all. I am not a Lord 
Admiral, however, but only plain Admiral. Are you 
the captain's son, my lad?" he inquired. 

"I shipped as cabin boy, sir," I answered, "but have 
been promoted to be a sailor boy." 

"That's good," he said, "but what can you do as a 
sailor boy? How heavy are j^ou?" 

"I weighed ninety pounds, sir, when I left New York. 
I can loose sails, furl the royals and skysail, set the gal- 
lantstunsails, steer my trick at the wheel, hold turn, coil 
ropes and a good many other things." 

"You are a handy chap," said the Admiral, "what part 
did you take in fighting the pirates in the Strait of Ma- 
lacca?" 

I replied that Mrs. Benjamin and I wanted to take a 
position on deck with the rest of them, but the captain 
would not allow it. "He gave each of us a pair of re- 
volvers and ordered me to stand by Mrs. Benjamin to the 
last, and said, Tf the pirates should succeed in boarding 
us, we will take our stand around the companionway, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 319 

then you and Jack may come on deck, and we will fight 
to the death.' " 

"Bravo!" said the Admiral. "Your captain told me 
that if it had not been for a sudden breeze which sprang 
up, it would have been the last for everyone of you, al- 
though you had a brave crew and your lives would have 
cost them dearly. That man, Sunday, must be an active 
chap, I hope to make something out of him. You may 
tell your captain that I will send for him at eight bells 
to-morrow morning. Give my regards to Mrs. Benjamin, 
I have heard of her as a brave, Christian lady. I would 
be pleased to meet her in the near future." The Admiral 
ordered the young officer to show me about the ship, and 
added that whenever I chose I might come on board and 
visit Sunday. 

As I was about to begin my tour of inspection, the 
chaplain's answer was handed me with an invitation to re- 
main on board and attend divine service, which would 
begin at six bells. As it was then only three bells, I de- 
clined, and returned immediately to the "Two Sisters." 
I then reported to Captain and Mts. Benjamin all that 
the Admiral had said. Mrs. Benjamin was pleased that 
she had been mentioned. 

"Jack," said the captain, "you may go to church aboard 
the Bethel ship this morning, and suppose you take Sun- 
day along, if he will go with you." 

"Yes, Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "that will be doing 
real missionary work. It will all be very strange to Sun- 
day, but I am quite sure that he will enjoy the service and 
will probably never forget it." 

When I came on deck, Mr. Stover and the second mate 
were waiting for me, anxious to know how I had been 



320 Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters/' 

received on board the warship. I rehearsed again the 
whole affair to him. 

"Had an audience with the Admiral, did you?" said 
Mr. Stover. "Well, that's more than he would have 
given us, eh, Mr. Fletcher?" 

"We can belay that, I reckon, sir," replied the second 
mate. 

"Mr. Stover, the captain told me, sir, to take Sunday 
with me to church service." 

"All right, Jack," he said, "you have twenty minutes 
in which to get away." 

I found Sunday in the galley. He usually assisted the 
cook, when not otherwise engaged. "Sunday," I said, 
"you come with me and hear a man talk about the Christ." 

"Yes, yes. Jack, I come." The cook fitted him out 
with a nice cap, jacket, etc. He also offered him his 
French Bible, but as Sunday could not read at this time 
he preferred to take his "Illustrated Life of Christ." Cap- 
tain and Mrs. Benjamin came on deck to see us off. Lang 
was to leave Sunday and me on board the Bethel ship and 
return to the "Two Sisters." Mr. Stover furnished me 
with a prayer book. 

"Jack," he said in a broken voice, "be careful of the 
book, it belonged to my mother." 

As Lang shoved off I overheard the mate exclaim: 
"Strange papers, a Sunday school boy and an ex-pirate 
on their way to church together, eh." 

"He was not a pirate of choice, sir," replied Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. 

"Well, I don't know about that, ma'am," said the 
mate, doubtfully, "but he is going the right way now." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 321 

We arrived on board the Bethel ship a few minutes 
before the service began and were received cordially. It 
was thought, at first, that I was in charge of Sunday. A 
congregation of about one hundred persons had collected, 
composed of sailors and officers from the surrounding 
shipping. It had been generally talked over among- the 
fleet that the American bark, "Two Sisters," had en- 
countered a band of Malay pirates on her way out, which 
had been successfully beaten off, and had taken one pris- 
oner. As soon as it was learned that Sunday and I be- 
longed on board the "Two Sisters," it was thought that 
Sunday might be the ex-pirate. It was really believed 
that he was the man, and they so discussed it. The chap- 
lain came to me and inquired about the matter. I at 
once explained to him all of the facts in the case and in- 
troduced Sunday to him as a Christian. Before the serv- 
ice began, the clergyman explained to the audience that 
the Malay present had never been a pirate, but had been 
captured b)^ the pirates and had escaped from them to 
the "Two Sisters." After some singing- and the reading 
of the service, the clergyman preached a sermon from the 
parable of the prodigal son. St. Luke XV: 20. 

I watched Sunday closely during the service, and saw 
that he was much interested, though he understood but 
little of the language used ; yet he comprehended much 
of the teaching, as the sequel showed. After exchanging 
a few remarks with the chaplain and a few of the others, 
who plied me with many questions in regard to Sunday, 
we set out for the "Two Sisters." On our way, I told 
him that they would come after him from the warship 
the following morning, and next Sunday I might come 
and visit him. 



322 Voyage of "The Two Sisters. ■''' 

"Like all on the Two Sisters,' " he said. "I glad 1 go, 
get South some day." He had previously told me that 
he had a father, mother, one sister and two brothers, if 
they had not been killed in the wars with robbers and 
pirates. 

"Jack," said the captain, as Sunday and I came on 
deck, "keep a good lookout for the cabin, Mrs. Benjamin 
and I are going on shore. Mr. Stover, the second mate 
and steward have gone already. Wilson, Chips and the 
cook will remain on board with you. If anything unus- 
ual happens and you need assistance haul the ensign down 
and run it up again union down." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. The captain and Mrs. 
Benjamin got away a little before four bells and I had 
full charge of the afterpart of the ship the rest of the 
afternoon and enjoyed myself greatly. I took the glass 
and inspected the shipping and Frenchtown thoroughly 
and then took a look at the walled city and meditated 
upon the long, long centuries, past and gone, when the 
city stood on the sea shore, but the grim old wall still 
encircles the city within its protecting arms. "Yes," I 
thought, "and yet these, too, shall pass away." I glanced 
over the fleet of old dilapidated junks above us. They 
were fairly alive with people. I looked up the river and 
down. I saw nothing of interest on the opposite side of 
the river; lowlands, Chinese cemetery, small villages, rice 
fields, etc. After surveying everything in sight I read 
awhile and then walked the quarter deck until eight bells. 
I noticed that Sunday, Wilson and Chips were seated on 
the main hatch having a consultation. As I could watch 
the cabin from their position I hove ahead and joined 
them. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 323 

"Hello, Captain Jack," said Wilson, "you walk the 
quarter deck like an admiral. Suppose we get under way 
and put to sea." 

"That's just what we will be doing after we get dis- 
charged and take in some ballast," I replied, "for we are 
chartered to run to Japan a whole year." 

"Sure it's ter Japan we will be goin', is it?" inquired 
Chips. "They'll bay after sazin' the ship and puttin' us 
away fer safe kapin' ind all the saints kint help us." 

"Well," replied Wilson, "what all of the saints did not 
do, the United States squadron, under Commodore Perry, 
in 1853-4, did accomplish, and now the Japs really like 
everything that is under the American flag." 

"Faith, ind is that the truth?" asked Chips, "thin it 
sames to me, ind it's me opinion, that the squadron, the 
commodore and the saints all worked togidder." 

"I will not deny that. Chips," said Wilson. "I know 
that when the saints were on the earth, they were all 
mighty men of faith and works, and that their influence 
will go on forever, but just what they did concerning the 
treaty with Japan I am not prepared to determine." 

"Niver ye mind, Wilson, we'll lave the quistion where 
it noo stands," said Chips. 

Wilson, Sunday, Chips and I then had an experience 
meeting, as the Methodists would have termed it. We 
were teaching Sunday somewhat of the theory of Chris- 
tianity, or as Chips put it, "Thayology of the Prastes." 
Yet, Sunday had a better practical experience of the Chris- 
tian religion than any of us, and proved to us that he un- 
derstood Mrs. Benjamin's explanation of the morning 
lesson. We had a pleasant and profitable conversation 
together. It was the last extended talk that we ever had 



324 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/"" 

with Sunday. Mr. Stover, the second mate and steward 
came on board at five P. M., and I was reheved of my 
responsibiHty. 

On the following morning the chaplain of the flagship 
was rowed alongside by two men in a small gig. The 
captain met him at the gangway, escorted him to 
the aftercabin and introduced him to Mrs. Benja- 
min. I was at once sent forward after Sunday, who 
was already dressed for the occasion. Mrs. Benja- 
min explained to the chaplain how that Sunday had been 
miraculously delivered from a compulsory life of piracy, 
and that she had always considered him as her ward. 

"I have taught him the truth as best I could, and he 
has embraced Christianity, which fact repays me a hun- 
dred fold for all of my efforts in his behalf. The offi- 
cers and crew have also taught him many practical 
things. He can speak only a few words of English, yet 
he understands about all of the words used on board a 
merchantman, except 'swear words.' I have taught him 
that they did not mean anything but bad. I now commit 
him, sir, into your charge." 

"1 only hope, ma'am," replied the chaplain, "that Sun- 
day's future development and service will be as successful 
under my care as it has been under yours. Captain Ben- 
jamin and the Admiral have told me of their plans con- 
cerning him," continued the chaplain, "the first year he 
will be taught to read and write, some mathematics, how 
to work in rigging, sew sails, handle big guns and side 
arms, small boats, etc." Mrs. Benjamin then introduced 
Sunday. The chaplain shook hands with him, saying: 

"Good morning, my man, we will take up the teaching 
where the mistress has left it, and I will endeavor to help 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 325 

you all I can." Turning- to Mrs. Benjamin, he added: 
"Madam, you will proh.ably always know this man as 
Sunday. Perhaps he would prefer to be known by his 
real name, or some other. ■ We will give him a choice in 
the matter in the near future." 

"I approve of your plan," said Mrs. Benjamin, "his 
real name will probably be much better for him." 

Sunday was then sent forward to get himself ready 
to leave the "Two Sisters." The chaplain, after a few 
minutes' pleasant conversation with the captain and Mrs. 
Benjamin in regard to our voyage out and our proposed 
trip to Japan, was about to take his leave when the cap- 
tain who was proud of the superior strength of the "Two 
Sisters' " construction, invited him between decks and 
down into the lower hold and pointed out to him the many 
points of strength and durability. Underneath the decks, 
the beams, carlings, knees, breast hooks, sides, in fact 
everything down to the thick streak, had been scraped and 
varnished. The cargo, which had not yet been discharged, 
formed a flat surface fore and aft and from side to side. 
The bales being closely pressed together formed as it 
were, a nice carpeting. Indeed, everything looked sub- 
stantial and neat. The sunbeams chasing each other down 
the hatchways, gave a pleasant appearance to the sur- 
roundings. The chaplain remarked that with the addi- 
tion of a few mirrors, here and there, and some furni- 
ture, it would make a fine drawing-room. After coming 
on deck the captain introduced him to Mr. Stover and 
the second mate. He then bade us good-bye and departed. 

At four bells a boat with four men and an officer from 
the flagship, with a letter from the Admiral for Captain 
Benjamin, and the necessary papers for the transfer of 



326 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/'' 

Sunday, came alongside. Sunday was given a letter 
which was, in effect, an honorable discharge, stating all 
we knew of him, that he had been obedient and faithful 
while on board the "Two Sisters," and further commend- 
ing him. This paper was signed by the captain, Mr. 
Stover and the second mate. Mrs. Benjamin also added 
her signature by request. Sunday was all ready, having 
previously taken his leave of all hands forward, shook 
hands with Mrs. Benjamin and the captain, and with the 
rest of us aft, saying, "Good-bye," and was off. 

"How different from the time we first saw him pros- 
trate on the deck, pleading for his life," remarked the 
captain; "I am quite sure, Mrs. Benjamin, if it had not 
been for you I would not have sent a boat after him when 
he jumped overboard and tried to make his escape." 

"I am sure we have all been a great help to him, and 
I trust that we shall never have cause to regret it," she 
replied. 

Mr. Stover remarked to the second mate, "There's 
been more fuss made over that chap during the last few 
days than I ever had made over me at any time in my 
life." The captain then went on shore to attend to busi- 
ness. 

During the week we had had considerable wet weather. 
We did not quite finish discharging the cargo. The Sab- 
bath had come again, making twenty-three days in port. 
It was a foggy, disagreeable day, consequently there was 
no display of bunting made among the shipping, and our 
ensigns only were set. Captain and Mrs. Benjamin had 
gone on shore to pass the day. M^r. Stover had also gone 
to make some calls. Before dinner I had a little talk with 
Wilson, all the other men having gone on shore. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 327 

"Jack," he said, "do you remember what Tom told us 
about having a brother who was on his way out here from 
Boston, on the ship 'N. G. Palmer?' " 

"Yes, Wilson, I remember now, but I had forgotten 
all about it. Why it was the same ship that sailed for 
Boston two weeks ago in which we sent letters home. 
Tom said that his brother sailed about a month before 
we did. I wonder if he went back in the ship. I am sorry 
that we did not think of it before she sailed." 

'T don't believe that he remained by the ship, Jack; we 
may run afoul of him out here some time. I think I 
would know him from a picture Tom showed me of him. 
Everything belonging to Tom which would be of inter- 
est to his relatives was taken aft. Of course, if his brother 
should ever heave in sight they would be delivered to 
him. There is a Sailors' Home in Americantown, and 
other boarding houses here," said Wilson, "and when 
I get ashore again, I will take a look in all of them. Per- 
haps I may get run of him. I think Tom told us he was 
generally known as 'Ericson,' but his Christian name is 
Andrew. Jack," continued Wilson, "when I was on 
shore, last week, I thought I would take a cruise inside 
the walled city, so I hauled up for the gates. After ar- 
riving just within the inner gate, I came to and took an 
observation, and according to my calculation I reckoned 
they did not have any use for me in there. I then put 
my helm hard up and kept away. If I was thirteen years 
old and had a coat full of brass buttons I might have 
sailed on all right, as you did; but as it was I decided 
that 'discretion is the better part of valor.' While the 
Chinese in this vicinity are depending upon the European 
authorities for protection, yet, as individuals, they can not 



328 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/'' 

trust them. There is a great demand here for white men, 
especially sailors, to join either the Imperial or rebel ranks. 
The insurgents offer a very large bounty, besides all of 
the treasure you can capture, but it's a cut-throat business 
and there isn't gold enough in all of China to tempt me 
in that direction. The Imperials offer big pay, but one 
would have to enlist for at least a year, and the probabiln 
ities are that before the time expired you would fall in 
with some rebels, who would decide that you ought to die, 
and proceed to carry that determination into effect. There 
are some cases. Jack, in which I had rather be known 
as a 'living coward' than as a brave dead man." 

'Terhaps our shipmates have been smuggled up the 
river before this time," I said. 

"Likely enough," replied Wilson. "I haven't heard 
anything from them since we sent their chests ashore." 

After dinner, Wilson and I visited Sunday, on board 
the flagship. We learned that twenty-five of her crew, 
while on liberty, deserted and joined the rebels. The 
remainder were not allowed to receive visitors, or any of 
them to go on shore. We would not have been allowed 
up the gangway if I had not been known. As we saluted 
the officer of the deck, I said : "Please, sir, we would 
like to visit Sunday." 

"Does this man belong on board your ship, my lad?" 

"Ever since we sailed from New York, sir," I an- 
swered. 

"All right," he said, "you may 'ave an hour with Sun- 
day hif you wish hit." 

We were then shown down on the gundeck, which is 
also called the berthdeck, as the men swing their ham- 
mocks there at night. Going forward, on the port side, 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 329 

we found vSimday in company with a countryman of his. 
They were sitting- beside one of the big guns. Sunday 
was greatly pleased to see us. He did not know enough 
English words to express his joy, so he rattled off a lot 
of kanacka (Malay), which his friend interpreted as best 
he could. Sunday had his book with him, and his friend 
had his small English primer. Sunday explained the 
situation in a few words. 

"Tell mistress," he said, pointing to his friend, "he 
makes me read, I tell him 'bout the Christ, chaplain he 
talk today." 

"What did the chaplain talk about this morning?" I 
asked. Sunday answered by pointing out in his book the 
"Feeding of the Eive Thousand," as recorded in all the 
four Gospels. Wilson, in conversation with one of the 
men, learned that Sunday had adapted himself to his new 
environment, and had become well known on board the 
ship. As we bid Sunday goodbye, he said: 

"Tell mistress I learn much, tell all, I happy." 

One of the men then showed us around the gundeck. 
The flagship was a steam frigate, of forty-four guns, 
thirty on the gundeck, and fourteen on the spardeck, ship 
rigged, and carried a crew, including officers and marines, 
of three hundred men. The gundeck was spacious, neat 
and well ventilated, having fifteen ports on either side 
which could be thrown open at a moment's notice. Not- 
withstanding the thirty guns, machinery, smokestack, 
masts and many other things on this deck, there was plenty 
of space left in which to handle the guns. The spardeck 
was more attractive, although that day the rain awnings 
were spread from rail to rail, fore and aft. The broad- 
side euns were not so lare^e as those on the o'undeck. 



330 Voyage of '^'^The Two Sisters." 

There were several brass pieces and a small one in each 
top. Every morning- the hammocks are rolled up snug 
and stowed on the top of the rail, on either side, and cov- 
ered with tarpaulin. They are held in place by brass rods, 
running fore and aft. Everything was clean and neat 
as a pin, and as shipshape as possible. The chaplain told 
us that the ship would sail for some port, when relieved; 
perhaps they might meet us in Japan. He then handed 
me a note for Mrs. Benjamin, after which Wilson and 
I took our leave; and set out for the "Two Sisters." On 
our way he explained to me several things about the war- 
ship which I had not understood. I was much pleased 
with my visit. 

The captain and Mrs. Benjamin came on board at 
six bells that evening. "Jack," she said, "what about 
your visit on board the frigate?" 

I handed her the chaplain's note, and gave an account 
of all that I saw and of what Sunday was doing and 
what he said. 

"The chaplain's note is very satisfactory, Jack," she 
said, "I am g-lad you had a good time and that Sunday 
is doing so well." 

The following week was a very busy one, the cargo 
had been discharged and ballast taken in. Much of the 
chafing gear had been sent aloft and put in place. A 
full crew was shipped and ready to come on board the 
following Monday morning. As we were to carry specie 
for the purchase of a cargo, our charter party furnished 
us, at their own expense, two big guns and ammunition 
and an experienced gunner, for protection against Chi- 
nese pirates. The gunner and his guns were taken on 
board Saturday morning. In the afternoon our old 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 331 

Chinese pilot came on board and, after taking in some 
stores, we got up our anchors and dropped down below 
the shipping. Everything was made ready to get under 
way the following Monday morning. 

Our fifth Sabbath in port was a c Judy, damp day. 
The captain and Mrs. Benjamin wei.t on shore to at- 
tend church and to drive with some friends. Before leav- 
ing the ship, the captain ordered Mr. Stover to send 
Wilson on shore to trace out Tom's brother, if possible. 
"Mrs. Benjamin is quite anxious he should have the few 
things which Tom left. He did not go back in the "N. 
G. Palmer," for I am told that she shipped an entire new 
crew. 

"Why not let Jack go along with Wilson, sir?" asked 
Mrs. Benjamin. 

"All right. Jack," he replied, "you may go, but be 
careful that you and Wilson don't get smuggled up the 
river, and be sure that you keep out of the walled city." 
Turning to the second mate, he said, "M^i^. Fletcher, you 
may as well take a hand in it, too, if you will." 

"I will go, sir," said the second mate, "but I have no 
way whatever of knowing him." Mrs. Benjamin then 
produced the picture that Tom had said was the likeness 
of his brother and handed it to Mr. Fletcher. Now, 
Mrs. Benjamin's proposition that I should go with Wil- 
son, was not especially for my benefit, but she feared 
that Wilson, while going through the different boarding 
houses, might yield to his old appetite for strong drink. 
If I had been detailed to accompany the second mate, 
instead of Wilson, perhaps it might have been better. 
While Mr. Fletcher was as good-hearted, conscientious 
and clever a sailor as ever hauled out a weather earing, 



332 Voyage of '^''The Two Sisters/' 

he was not strong enough to overcome the sailor's be- 
setting sin, and as he did not depend on the Strong One 
for strength, you can readily guess what followed. 

Before dinner I had some conversation with the pilot. 
"How far out do you take the ship, Pilot?" I inquired. 

"Oh, maybe Amherst Rock, if catchee boat Ariadne 
Rock, I go. I pilot here thirty year, never go outside 
Shawieshan, Amherst, Saddle Island." 

"Are there many Chinese pirates on the coast?" I 
asked. 

"Yes," he said. "European, he git him junk, coolie 
sailors make him pirate." Mrs. Benjamin had told me 
that it was said on shore that many of the Chinese 
pirates were headed by European desperadoes in disguise, 
and as every junk that left the harbors was well armed, 
some of them turned pirates whenever the opportunity 
was presented. 

After dinner the second mate, Wilson and I went on 
shore to locate Tom's brother, if possible. Mr. Fletcher 
was to visit the boarding places in Englishtown, while 
Wilson and I were to visit those in Americantown. We 
agreed to meet at five-thirty P. M. on the Soochow Creek 
bridge, which connected the two towns. 

There were not as many business houses in the Ameri- 
can as in the English district, but it was pleasantly situ- 
ated and well laid out. We met only a few European 
residents, and no ladies. It had its full quota of drunken 
sailors, however, along the water front and around the 
saloons. Wilson and I visited several boarding houses. 
In most everyone of them we were received cordially and 
invited to drink with the proprietor and talk over old 
times, but we steadfastly refused all such invitations. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 333 

One proprietor, however, insisted that we should drink 
to his health and for the good of the house. Wilson de- 
murred, stating that we merely dropped in to inquire 
about a friend, but the man still persisted, whereupon we 
turned to leave. The man then came out from behind 
the bar, followed us up and insulted Wilson, hurling 
at him profane epithets, saying that he was no sailor man 
but only a land lubber and loafing spy. I saw that trou- 
ble was brewing, and became anxious. Now, I knew 
that Wilson was a hard man to handle, but there were 
a number of men sitting around, and as I did not know 
just which side they might take, I endeavored to induce 
Wilson to leave the room with me. "All right, go ahead. 
Jack," he said. j\.s I was about to open the door, the 
man, thinking th.it we were beating a retreat, became 
more profuse with his insulting remarks, and followed 
close behind us. Wilson then turned and dealt him a 
powerful blow on his starboard cheekbone, which sent the 
fellow reeling backward. 

"Served him light, served him right," echoed a half 
dozen voices. 

"Shipmates," said Wilson, "we are not made of putty, 
a man can't stand everything. All I expect is a square 
deal. If that fellow wants to have it out with me, I am 
ready, only allow us all the room we need, and if that 
land-shark or I need any help we will let you know." 

"Get out of my house," yelled the proprietor. 

"All right," said Wilson, "if you are satisfied, I am." 
We then left the place. 

"My! Wilson", I said, "I am glad to get out on the 
street. I was afraid, at first, that those chaps in there 
would take his part." 



334 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"We had the door behind us, Jack," said Wilson, 
"and if they had come for us we would have retired, 
but those men saw that the fellow was trying to take 
advantage of us." 

"Well, Wilson, where now?" I said. "We've only 
found out so far, what the captain knows already, that 
the 'N. G. Palmer' shipped a new crew before going to 
sea." 

"We will take a look in the 'Sailors' Home,' Jack, be- 
fore we go up to the bridge." 

There was no barroom attached to the "Home," 
which fact was a relief to me, for I had visited more 
rum-shops than I cared to. The superintendent re- 
ceived us courteously and looked over his books, but 
could not find any one from the "N. G. Palmer." 

"Shipmates," said a man, who was standing near 
us, "I know somethink 'bout the men that came out 
in that ship, 'bout eight of 'em joined the little bark 
"Maryland" and sailed fer Hong Kong 'bout two 
weeks gone. I'm thinkin' the chap you're lookin' 
fer might be one of them. They'll be back here 
again in a months or so." 

"Good for you, shipmate," said Wilson, "his name 
is Andrew Ericson." 

"If you ever heave in with him tell him that he 
is wanted on board the American bark 'Two Sisters,' 
to claim the belongings of his brother, who died on the 
way out from New York. The 'Two Sisters' is about 
to sail for Nagasaki, and may return here and we 
may meet the 'Maryland,' if she comes back to this 
port." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 335 

"If I'm here, I'll keep a look out fer him," said 
the man. 

"I will also make a note of it," remarked the su- 
perintendent. After a little further conversation 
about coasting, wages, etc., Wilson and I set out to 
meet the second mate. We arrived at the bridge 
right on time. Mr. Fletcher was just heaving in 
sight. 

"Jack," said Wilson, "something's up with the sec- 
ond mate." As he drew near, I saw that he was 
three points in the wind, as the sailors say of a man 
who is intoxicated. 

"Hello, W-w-wilson, o-o-old boy," he stammered, 
"didn't find out anything." 

"We located him, sir," said Wilson, "and we are 
ready to go aboard now." 

"You needn't 'sir' me now, W-wilson," he said, 
"I'm by the board, I'm going 'board neither for no- 
body." 

"Mr. Fletcher," I said, "I am surprised to see you 
in this condition. It's too bad, Mrs. Benjamin would 
be sorry to hear about it, sir." 

"M-m-rs. B-b-benjamin is a young woman," he re- 
plied, "but she-e-e-s been like a mother to-0-0 us all. 
She n-n-eedn't know 'thing 'bout it, eh. Jack? I 
get 'board to-night, all right, you, you understand." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. Wilson and I then 
arranged between us that he should remain with 
the second mate and take care of him until he sobered 
up a little and that I should go on board and report 
our afternoon's work. 



336 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

"Say to Mr. Stover, Jack, that the second mate and 
I will be on board during the evening. It will not 
be necessary for you to make any explanation, un- 
derstand ?" 

"Yes, Wilson, I understand." 

"That's a-a-all r-right, come 'board to-night, no ex- 
planations, eh. Jack, m-my lad?" exclaimed the sec- 
ond mate and Wilson. 

"Aye, aye, sir," I replied. As I set out for the 
'Two Sisters,' Wilson proposed to Mr. Fletcher that 
they keep off a bit and go and take a look at the 
dry dock. "The man who owns it," he said, "is a 
towny of Jack's." 

The captain and Mrs. Benjamin arrived on board 
at the same time that I did. I reported to the cap- 
tain what we had learned about Tom's brother. Mr. 
Stover, who was standing by, inquired about the sec- 
ond mate and Wilson. 

"They told me, sir, that they would come off this 
evening." No one asked the reason why they had 
not come back with me, and I did not give any. 

A few minutes before nine P. M., a sampan came 
alongside. I was alone on deck, standing the first 
hour of the anchor watch. It proved to be Wilson 
and the second mate, who was in quite good condi- 
tion. I told them that the coast was all clear, every- 
body aft had turned in. As Mr. Fletcher was to take 
the second hour of the watch, I reported to Mr. 
Stover, at two bells, that the second mate and A¥il- 
son were on board all right. I then went to my room, 
tired and heavy-hearted. I liked Mr. Fletcher very 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 337 

much, even with all his faults. I had not forgotten 
his kinds words and helping hand on my first night 
at sea, and at other times, I thought "How weak we 
are in our own strength to overcome temptation, even 
the very best of us." 

All hands were turned out at daylight the next 
morning to take in the specie, which had been sent 
alongside under cover of the darkness. It consisted 
of Mexican dollars, packed in boxes, five thousand 
in each box. We took in about thirty of them and 
stowed them away in the lower hold. The super- 
cargo accompanied the treasure, and was duly in- 
stalled as a guest of the captain. The men who had 
been previously shipped came on board. Our ship's 
company now consisted of the captain and Mrs. Ben- 
jamin, first and second mate, eight sailors, gunner, 
carpenter, cook, steward, supercargo and myself, six- 
teen souls, all told, not including the pilot. 

After breakfast we proceeded to get under way. 
A light breeze was blowing down the river, and an 
ebb tide was running*. We first mastheaded our top- 
sail-yards, then manned the windlass and hove up 
short. As we were to cast on the port tack, the 
spanker was set with the boom hauled well over to 
the starboard, after which the topsail sheets were 
hauled out and the halyards tautened up, the fore- 
yards were then braced up sharp with the port braces, 
the main yards were left square, the anchor was 
broke out and the headsails run up. While the ship 



338 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

was paying off, we hove up briskly, then braced the 
fore-yards around to the starboard, and as we gath- 
ered headway the wheel was changed, after which 
we cat and fished the anchor, and made sail as rap- 
idly as possible. We passed out of the Wu-sung 
River into the Yang-tse at nine-thiry A. M., the 
twenty-second of March, 1859. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 339 



Chapter XIII. 

Wbt jFit0t ^eat on t^t Coa0t ot CSina antr Hapan 

We now headed for Kintoan beacon, about three 
miles distant, and after passing it, hauled up for the 
light-ship on the starboard tack. Our direct course 
from Kintoan beacon to the light-ship was southeast 
by east, one quarter east, distance fifteen and one- 
half miles, with the wind dead ahead. The tide was 
still running ebb. We passed the light-ship and out 
over the bar at four P. M., sailing close to the wind- 
ward of Ariadne Rock, and meeting a pilot boat in 
that vicinity we hove to and discharged the pilot. 
At six P. M. we passed a little south of the Amherst 
Rocks, from whence we took our departure. 

"How do you head?" asked the captain of the man 

at the wheel. 

"Northeast by east, sir." 

"Our direct course to the bay of Nagasaki," said 
Mr. Stover, "is east by north, sir, distance three hun- 
dred ninety miles." 

"Yes," replied the captain, "and it leads midway 
between the Pallas Rocks and Cape Goto. The Pal- 
las Rocks are three in number, the position of the 
southeastern one is latitude 32 degrees 34 minutes 
north, longitude 128 degrees 12 minutes east. We 
pass a little to the north of the Asses Ears group, 
the highest island of which is visible, in clear weather, 



340 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

about thirty miles. With Asses Ears bearing south, 
eight miles distant, an east northeast course for sev- 
enty-five miles will place the ship off the north point 
of Iwo Sima islands, at the entrance of Nagasaki Bay. 
The wind is southeast," continued the captain. "I 
hope it will haul a little more to the southward. If 
it does not, we will keep her going on the starboard 
tack for a couple of hundred miles and then tack 
ship." 

''We may head up a little to the eastward, sir, dur- 
ing the night," said the mate, "I understand the pre- 
vailing winds in this vicinity, at this time of year, are 
from northeast to southeast." 

It was eight bells, evening, when the log was 
thrown, showing that the ship was making eight 
knots. The starboard watch came on deck ; it was 
my wheel. 

"Full and by," said Sam, as I relieved him. 

"Full and by," I answered. 

We were heading northeast by east, half east. 
Everything was set except the stunsails. 

"Keep a good lookout ahead," called out the sec- 
ond mate. 

"Aye, aye, sir," came back the answer from the 
forecastledeck. 

The second mate and the supercargo engaged in 
conversation regarding our port of destination, which 
was especially interesting to me. 

"Is this your first trip to Japan, sir?" inquired Mr. 
Fletcher. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 341 

"It is my second trip, sir," replied the supercargo, 
"yet I do not know very much about the country. 
Nagasaki is situated on the west coast of a peninsula 
of the same name, which is a part of the island of 
Kiusiu. Nagasaki harbor is available for ships of 
. all classes. There are three entrances into the bay, 
the principal one is from the northwest, between the 
islands of Faku da Saki and Iwo Sima; this entrance 
is called the Fairway. It is four miles from the har- 
bor proper. The Bay of Nagasaki, sir," continued the 
supercargo, "is formed by four islands. There are 
also a number of small islets in the bay. Nagasaki 
■harbor is an arm or inlet, running in a northeasterly 
direction from the head of this bay. It is large and 
commodious, thoroughly sheltered from all winds. 
The entrance is a quarter of a mile wide, between 
Ogami Point on the west and Megami Point on the 
east, and runs northeast, increasing in width as it 
nears the city, two miles distant." 

"You are so familiar, sir, with the bay and harbor, 
you can act as pilot for us," suggested the second 
mate, "as I understand that there are no pilots on 
the coast. 

"No, no." replied the supercargo, "I had rather 
be excused. I am no sailor and would not dare to 
assume the responsibility of taking the ship into the 
bay or harbor. From what I have learned the ap- 
proaches from the northwest entrance are com- 
paratively free from obstruction, with the exceptions 
of one or two sunken rocks. If I should undertake 
to pilot you, the probabilities are that the 'Two Sis- 
ters' would fetch up on one of them. The little I 



342 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/"" 

know about Nagasaki Bay and Harbor I studied out 
while I was over there from a new chart which Cap- 
tain Benjamin received from my company. There 
is a flag-staff on the north point of Iwo Sima islands, 
which marks the northwest entrance of the bay. This 
entrance, although safe of approach, is sometimes 
difficult for a stranger to make out, especially in 
clear weather, when the islands blend with the main- 
land, but on near approach, or in cloudy, hazy 
weather, when the islands appear in relief, the un- 
certainty is removed." 

"What kind of merchandise do you expect to pur- 
chase, sir?" asked the second mate, shall we have a 
full cargo?" 

"Oh, yes," replied the supercargo, "we will use our 
specie as far as it will go in buying silk, both raw 
and manufactured, lacquer ware, polished steel mir- 
rors and curios of all sorts for the United States and 
European markets, after which we will purchase, on 
credit, all that the ship can carry for the Chinese 
market, such articles as seaweed, a kind of sea grass 
from three to four feet in length which is used for 
food, dried fish, peas, oil, flour, etc. There is noth- 
ing shipped from Japan direct to any other part of 
the world except China and two or three cargoes to 
Holland, every season, a privilege which was grant- 
ed to the Dutch many years ago. Nagasaki is the 
most important treaty port in Japan and the only 
place of trade opened for foreigners between 1623 
and 1857. The Japanese grow quantities of tea, but 
they simply dry it for their own use, therefore, it 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 343 

is not properly prepared for the markets of the 
world." 

At four bells the supercargo went below. After 
I was relieved from the wheel, the log was thrown. 
We were making eight knots and heading northeast 
by east. The second mate then wrote up the log- 
slate, course, distance, direction of the wind, etc., for 
the last two hours. After assuring himself that the 
lookout was at his post, he said : 

"Jack, my lad, you may take a snooze under the 
lee of the center house if you like." It did not take 
me long to avail myself of the privilege. Although 
I had stood watch for several months on our way 
out, yet it was as natural for me to sleep through 
all the night, as for a fish to swim. It was seven 
bells, when I awoke, and as Wilson was on the look- 
out I went up on the forecastledeck and had a little 
chat with him. 

"Hello, Jack," he said, "been sleeping on watch?" 

"The second mate told me that I could, Wilson.'* 

"Might just as well as not. Jack, there has nothing 
been going on. But if you were in the mate's watch, 
he would keep you walking fore and aft on the poop 
deck, if there was nothing else to do." 

"I hope that I shall never be in his watch, Wilson, 
but I may be, if the second mate should leave, at 
any time. Do you think that the gunner could send 
a shell into a pirate junk with one of our big guns?" 

"Yes, Jack, I think that he could hit a junk with 
both of the guns about as fast as we could load them. 



344 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/'' 

that's just what he is here for, but my! Jack, if the 
pirates knew about the specie which we have on 
board, wouldn't they be after us though? However, 
it is not Hkely that they know anything about it, as 
it was brought alongside before daylight you remem- 
ber, so you need not be fearful, besides these Chinese 
pirates seldom get very far from the mainland, but 
if we should ever get becalmed among the islands on 
the coast of China, then look out." 

"Why don't they use swift fore-and-aft schooners?" 
"Because, Jack, there are no such crafts on the 
coast, and if they should secure several vessels of 
that class elsewhere, they would easily be detected, 
but as it is now, you can't tell a pirate junk from 
any other. You either have to wait for them to at- 
tack you or else turn pirate yourself and fire the first 
gun. A pirate junk may sometimes be detected, 
however, by the way they are handled." 

"There goes eight bells, Wilson." 
"Sail ho," he shouted. 

"Where away," called out the second mate. 
"Dead ahead, and she looks like a junk on the 
starboad tack, sir." 

An order had been given previously that if a junk 
should heave in sight during the night, all hands 
should be called immediately. As soon as I heard 
the word "junk," therefore, I rushed aft into the 
cabin and notified the mate and supercargo. The 
captain and steward had already been awakened. 
The rule was to relieve the watch within five or seven 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 345 

minutes after eight bells, but in this case all hands 
were on deck in less than half that time. 

"Jack, keep close to me," said the captain, as he 
and the officers, including the supercargo, went for- 
ward to watch the stranger. The gunner and the 
crew loaded our guns, which were mounted on the 
forward end of the poop deck, one on either side. 
I heard the gunner remark, when he came on board, 
that our guns and ammunition were much superior 
to those which the pirates carried, and this I remem- 
bered with satisfaction. 

"We are overhauling him fast," said Wilson. 

"We will watch him closely," replied the captain, 
"and see if he changes his course." 

"If he does not, perhaps we had better change 
ours," said the supercargo. 

"Well," answered the captain, "I don't know about 
that, we must avoid running off to the leeward, un- 
less it is absolutely necessary, and if we should tack 
ship, he will, if he is a pirate, run down and attack 
us while we are in stays, and that will never do. 
Mr. Stover, suppose we send a shot to windward of 
him, he will understand what it means and if he is 
a merchantman, he will change his course, but if he 
does not, then we will." 

"A good manoeuver, sir," said the mate. "Mr. 
Fletcher, notify the gunner." 

"Away, Jack, and tell Mrs. Benjamin all about it," 
said the captain. "There is no danger yet, only go- 
ing to test the stranger, understand?" 



346 Voyage of ''^The Two Sisters/^ 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered and rushed aft. 

As I entered the cabin I heard the order, "Keep 
her off a couple of points." I found Mrs. Benjamin 
up and dressed, quietly seated by the center table, 
waiting and watching. I knew that she was looking 
for me, and I said in one breath : "All is well, ma'am, 
don't be frightened, only going to test the stranger." 

"Bang!" went our starboard gun. The concussion 
did frighten us both although I knew what was go- 
ing to happen. As soon as she recovered herself, she 
said: "Jack, my boy, it looks like trouble." I then 
hurriedly explained to her our tactics and hastened 
on deck to learn the results. When I reached the 
break of the poop-deck, I found that the stranger 
had kept hard off and given us the absolute right of 
way. 

"Sailing on this coast is quite dangerous and must 
be very unpleasant for a lady," remarked the super- 
cargo. "Suppose," he continued, "the fellow wears 
ship and creeps up astern of us. You know they al- 
ways carry a large bow gun, a chaser." 

"There is not a junk afloat that can creep up on 
the 'Two Sisters' in a steady breeze like this," said 
the captain. "The only time that they could over- 
haul us would be during light baffling winds. At 
such times they might bring a fair breeze along with 
them. No, no, if that fellow was a pirate, he would 
have run for us and showed fight." 

"Hello, sir," said Mr. Stover. "He has hauled up 
by the wind again." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 347 



"He's all right, I think," said the captain. "He 
doesn't want to run to the leeward any more than 
we do. We're outsailing him, hand over fist; we will, 
however, watch him out of sight. Mr. Fletcher, your 
watch can go below." 

"Relieve the wheel and go below, the watch," 
shouted the second mate. 

At noon the following day we had made about one 
hundred and fifty miles on the starboard tack, the 
wind having headed us off to the north northeast, 
we tacked ship. It was blowing a good stiff breeze. 
After dinner I was set at work oiling the after cabin. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "if you can do your 
work and listen, I will tell you a little of what I 
have been reading about Japan." 

"I think I can, ma'am," I answered, "rubbing on 
oil is smooth work." 

"Very well, then, we will begin. The celebrated 
and mysterious traveler, Marco Polo, was the first 
to announce to the western world the existence of 
the rich islands of Xipangn, now known as Japan. 
In 1542, a Portuguese, Mendezpinto, was cast by a 
storm on its shores, and a Portuguese settlement 
from Malacca was soon afterwards made on Kiusiu. 
In June, 1588, some citizens from Rotterdam fitted a 
small fleet of five ships to trade in the Indian Archi- 
pelago and injure, as much as possible, the commerce 
and power of Spain. Among several Englishmen in 
this fleet were William Adams, of Gillingham, near 
Rochester, and Timothy Shotter, who had accom- 
panied the famous Cavendish in his circumnavigation 



348 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

of the globe. The venture was pre-eminently unfor- 
tunate. Only one ship, and that the smallest, the 
'Joyous Message,' commanded by Siebold de Weert, 
returned to Holland. Two of the others were de- 
stroyed, and the fourth, in which were these two 
Englishmen, reached Japan, a mere wreck. They 
were taken prisoners, and after some confinement, 
Adams was taken into the confidence of the Tycoon; 
the rest departed. He was raised to great honor, 
became of first importance in the political and com- 
mercial affairs of the empire, but did not succeed to 
the extent of his intentions, having gained privileges 
only for the Dutch, who have studiously avoided 
mention of his part in their establishment. Several 
extensive privileges were also granted, at his insti- 
gation, to the English East Indian Company. As 
it is well known, the only port allowed to be opened 
to foreigners, which permission was limited to the 
Dutch and Chinese, was the port of Nagasaki, or 
rather for the Dutch, the island of Dezima, lying 
close to the city. But the Japanese maintained a 
rigid exclusiveness, and but little was known in 
Europe or America about the country. Without 
enumerating the old authors, the principal work on 
Japan is by Dr. Ph. Fr. Van Siebold, who visited the 
country in the period between 1823 and '30. 

"The events from that time to the present have 
marvelously altered the relations between Japan and 
Western civilization. The various attempts to ob- 
tain admission into Japanese affairs, made prior to 
1853, need not be mentioned, but in that year, July 



■ A Cabin Boy's Story. 349 

eight, Commodore Perry, U. S. N., appeared off the 
entrance of Yedo Bay with two large steam frigates 
and several sloops of war. He sought first only to 
abolish the barbarous Japanese laws which consigned 
shipwrecked seamen to death and their vessels to 
destruction. The steady resistance to holding any 
intercourse, overawed, however, by the presence of 
this formidable force, gradually gave way, and some 
concessions were granted before the departure of the 
fleet, which left with promise or menace from Com- 
modore Perry that he intended to return for a more 
definite answer with a larger fleet, in the following 
year, 

"Accordingly, on Feb. 12, 1854, a squadron of nine 
war vessels appeared in the Bay of Yedo, and after 
skillful negotiations a treaty of friendship was con- 
cluded between the Tycoon and the United States, 
and permission was granted to locate a consul at 
Simoda, an insignificant place at the south extreme 
of the Idsu peninsula, on the west side of Yedo Bay. 
The second stage of this international negotiation 
was reached by Mr. Harris, United States diplomat, 
who by unremitting zeal contrived to enter Yedo in 
1857, not to leave it until April, 1858, with the treaty 
of commerce framed." 

"Is the United States the only nation which has 
a treaty with Japan, ma'am?" I inquired. 

"Yes, Jack," answered Mrs. Benjamin, at present 
we are the only nation which has secured such privi- 
leges. No doubt, however, similar concessions will 
be granted to the principal European powers. I 



350 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

heard, while at Shanghai, that a treaty between 
Japan and Great Britain would be ratified within a 
few months. There is much internal trouble in 
Japan; the political situation is very uncertain and 
feudal strife and rebellion prevail. The opening of 
their ports to the outside world is being vigorously 
contested by many in authority. It is feared that our 
treaty and the concessions which have been granted 
us are illegal, having been ratified by the Tycoon 
of the period. It should have been ratified by the 
Mikado, the actual emperor. All these difficulties, 
however, will soon be overcome, as the United States 
and Great Britain, as well as the loyal citizens of 
Japan, have determined that the country must be 
opened for trade. Well, Jack, that will do for this 
time. I will tell you something about this Island 
Empire, 'The Land of the Rising Sun,' on our way 
back to China. I have a better opportunity of learn- 
ing about these things than you do, and it is a pleas- 
ure for me to tell you of them." 

At noon, the fourth day out. Asses Ears were in 
sight. We passed to the windward of Pallas Rocks, 
on the port tack, during the previous night. The 
wind having headed us off to the south southwest, 
we tacked ship at eight bells that evening, Asses 
Ears bearing south. 

"Check in the weather braces," ordered the mate, 
"and run up the topmaststunsails." Mr. Fletcher and 
I then went below. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 351 

"Mr. Fletcher, what are the indications, sir?" in- 
quired Mrs. Benjamin," I notice that the log slate 
records three knots, heading east northeast." 

"We have a fair wind, ma'am, but very little of it, 
expect to make the entrance sometime in the morn- 
ing," replied Mr. Fletcher. 

When the second mate and I went on deck at mid- 
night, the wind began to freshen, every stitch of 
canvas was spread and drawing nicely, and at four 
A. M. the "Two Sisters" appeared quite like herself 
again, redeeming the time at the rate of twelve knots. 
At eight A. M. we were off the northwest entrance 
of Nagasaki Bay. 

"Take in the stunsails, Mr. Stover," ordered the 
captain, "and clew up the skysail, royals and degal- 
lantsails, haul down the staysails, flying-jib and clew 
up the mainsail." 

By that time the supercargo made out the flag-staff 
which he had previously spoken of. The captain 
knew that it was on the north point of Iwo Sima 
islands, afterwards known as Signal Head, but the 
islands so blended with each other that no entrance 
was visible. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "it's not safe to 
stand in any nearer. We will heave the ship to and 
run up the Union Jack at the fore. There are no 
pilots on the coast, but perhaps some fisherman may 
understand our signal and come off." 

"Brace up the head-yards, light up head-sheets, 
down with your helm, back the maintopsail," shouted 
the mate. While these manoeuvers were going on 



352 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

I sent aloft^the Union Jack. In the meantime Cap- 
tain Benjamin had made out a ship coming up, un- 
der full sail, bound apparently for Nagasaki. 

"We will have company, sir, at any rate," said the 
supercargo, "perhaps he has been here before. If 
so, we can follow him in. I think, sir, if we ventured 
a little nearer in shore, we would discern the en- 
trance, but captain, I would not dare to advise you 
against your better judgment." 

"Likely enough," replied the captain, "however, 
we will wait a little now for further developments." 

At four bells the stranger was within hailing dis- 
tance. She proved to be a Dutch brig, full rigged, 
from Hong Kong, her captain and officers had been 
to Nagasaki before. We might follow him into port, 
or if we would send a boat alongside he would send 
his second mate on board, who would act as our pilot. 

"We will send a boat alongside," shouted our cap- 
tain. 

Our friend then hove to. Mr. Fletcher and four 
men were dispatched immediately. They soon re- 
turned from the brig and brought her second mate. 
He was a big, strapping fellow, about thirty-five years 
of age, a noble specimen of a Scandinavian sailor. 
He resembled our late friend, Tom, in every par- 
ticular, more fully than any man I ever met. He de- 
livered a note from his captain to Captain Benjamin, 
who after reading it, passed it over to Mr. Stover. The 
note certified that the bearer was fully capable of 
handling the ship and to take her safely into port, 
whereupon the captain gave him the command. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 353 

"Up with the hehTi, fill away the maintopsail and 
board the main-tack," he ordered. After we had kept 
off on our course, the pilot ordered all the light sails 
except the studdingsails, set. 

"We may not feel much wind on deck when we 
get close in among the islands," he said. 

The brig got a little the start of us, but we soon 
overhauled and slipped by her, indeed, the "Two Sis- 
ters" could show her heel to any craft that we had 
met on the coast. 

"Captain," said the pilot, "you were in the right 
position, sir, and if you had ventured a little nearer 
in shore, you would have made out the entrance to 
the bay, all right." 

"But I didn't like to take too many chances." 

"You are right, sir," said the pilot. "When I first 
came here in this same brig, we launched our life 
boat and the captain sent me in shore to locate the 
entrance. Care must be taken, to avoid the bank off 
the dangerous Soto no Hirase Rock." 

After sounding, we hauled up sharp on the wind 
for Papenburg Bluff, course east, half south, passing 
it as closely as convenient, but taking care to avoid 
the Barracouta Rock; then we headed for the en- 
trance of the harbor, course east northeast, distance 
four miles from the entrance of the bay. It was not 
necessary to use the lead, as the channel from Iwo 
Sima Point to the entrance of the harbor carried a 
depth from twenty to forty fathoms. When reach- 
ing the harbor we passed in mid-channel between 



354 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/^ 

Ogami and Megami Points. We then steered direct- 
ly for the Dutch flag on Dezima a northeast course, 
distance two and one-half miles to the city. The 
depth of water gradually decreasing to three and one- 
half fathoms. We now began to take in sail and 
soon came to, ofif the city, and anchored on the after- 
noon of the fifth day out from Shanghai. 

A fleet of boats gathered around us, but no one 
came alongside. It was evident that they were not 
looking for business, but were simply curious. Af- 
ter a few minutes our gig was lowered and manned 
by three men and myself. After the pilot had been 
thanked and remunerated, we pulled the captain, su- 
percargo and his luggage ashore. It was a new ex- 
perience for me to handle such a large oar. The 
captain was rather doubtful, the mate did not expect 
me to go, but Mr. Fletcher had previously instructed 
me to take a place in the gig, whenever there was 
an opportunity. 

"It will be a change and a help to you, Jack," he 
said. 

So, as the boat was about to be lowered, I slipped 
in. After unhooking the falls, and while being pulled 
up to the gangway, the mate called out in a very un- 
pleasant voice, "Boy, come out of that." But the 
captain, not wishing to be detained, answered for 
me, saying: "Never mind, Mr. Stover, we will give 
him a trial." 

About half way to the landing, while the boat was 
being sent through the water rapidly, I caught a 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 355 

frog and a big one at that, which sent me over back- 
ward in quick time. This caused a hearty laugh 
among the crew and passengers at my expense. I 
was reinstated, however, after which I kept stroke 
fairly well. 

After landing the supercargo and captain, he or- 
dered us to go back to the ship and return for him 
at five P. M. On our way back the crew insisted 
that I should act as cockswain, and with a few in- 
structions from them we rounded up under the quar- 
ter and came alongside in good style. I gave Mr. 
Stover the captain's orders. 

Mrs. Benjamin, who had been watching the boat, 
said : "J^^ck, you did very well." The mate, how- 
ever, appeared to be jealous of me, because I had 
succeeded, and after Mrs. Benjamin went below, he 
ordered me about in a packet-ship manner. 

The light sails had been tied up. The crew was 
now furling the topsails and courses. As I have said 
before, I was not large enough to be of any use on 
the lower yards, but there was enough for me to do, 
as the decks were covered with the running rigging. 

"Mr. Stover doesn't mean half what he says to 
me, and yet," I thought, "it is bad enough;" but I 
had straight work ahead of me, and I went at it with 
a will, coiling up ropes as neatly and as quickly as 
I could. 

During the afternoon the supercargo came oflf, hav- 
ing several small boats with him. The specie was 
then got out and taken on shore. They had no large 



3S6 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

lighters in Japan, as they had in China, and there- 
fore the cargo had to be handled in small boats. The 
boats in Japan were propelled by the same method 
of sculling as at Shanghai, with this difference, how- 
ever; at Shanghai each boat, large or small, is pro- 
pelled by one oar only, while in Japan a boat may 
have from one to a dozen, according to the size of 
the boat, two over the stern and one or more on 
either side. The side oars are fitted on little out- 
riggers, just long enough to allow the oar to swing 
clear of the boat. 

At a quarter before two bells the gig was ordered 
on shore for the captain. I was quick to act as the 
second mate had advised me, and installed myself in 
the stern sheets, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," 
I thought. The mate growled a bit, but allowed me 
to hold my position. We then shoved off and headed 
for the landing. I had a new crew. Wilson was 
one of them and pulled the stroke oar. 

As the captain was thirty minutes late, we had 
time to look about. We landed at the broad stone 
steps, as before, on the west end of the historical 
island Desima, which is connected with the city by 
a stone bridge. Desima was conceded to some Dutch 
merchants many years ago. It is the site of the 
old factory and the Dutch residences and warehouses. 
Their Consulate also was located there. The island 
is shaped like the border of a fan, and is about two 
hundred and fifty yards in length and eighty in width. 
It is traversed by a central street. The consulate is 
situated at its southwest angle. The broad steps. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 357 

at the west end, were the best place for landing at 
the city. The Japanese custom house stood directly 
east of Desima, but was not accessible to boats before 
half flood. 

The people were approachable and seemed to be 
kindly disposed. They dressed somewhat different- 
ly from the Chinese, most of them wearing long 
gowns. The fronts of their heads were shaven, like 
the Chinese; they wore no cue, but arranged their 
hair in a topknot, which was neatly twisted up and 
turned toward their foreheads. Both sexes were 
dressed much alike. In warm weather the working 
men wore only their shirts and loin cloths. We 
bought some oranges and nuts. 

The captain had bought oranges, eggs, fish, chick- 
ens, mutton, etc. I never saw a market boat, bom- 
boat or any boatman soliciting trade during all my 
visits to Japan. When we got back to the ship and 
had hoisted the gig, I found the decks had been 
washed and everything made tidy for the following 
day which was the Sabbath. After supper that even- 
ing the cook and I had a little conversation. He 
said: 

"Jack, likee go in de boat, eh? What ye see on 
de shore? See small boy likee ye?" I then told him 
of my experience in the boat, about the landing and 
the people. 

"De mate growl, he say, 'de boy no good, in de 
boat, he better rub de brasswork;' de second mate, 
he say, 'de boy rub de brass all right in de morning. 



358 Voyage of '"'The Two Sisters/'' 

"The captain and the boat's crew thought I did 
remarkably well for my first trial," I said, "besides 
it was a help to me, in several ways." 

"Jack, when we gits back to Shanghai, I leaves 
de 'Two Sisters.' I goes back to de States. I no 
likee de mate, no longer any more, he growl, he growl 
all de time he growl. De steward leave, too, some 
time soon, fur he no like him de mate, neither. De 
misses, de captain, all hands good. De mate he fight 
him, de men, when he was on shore, he git him killed 
some day. De second mate he no help him." 

"Cook, I hope you will not leave us," I said, "I 
have got to stay by the ship until she gets back to 
New York. You know we talked this matter over 
once before, and the mistress told us, you remem- 
ber, that we must try and like Mr. Stover with all 
his faults. I am sure that we would like him better 
if he didn't have so many. Perhaps we are not doing 
our best." 

"Jack, I likee Mr. Stover, if he be long way ofif. 
Ye and de mistress tells me much 'bout de Bible. I 
no forgits it, Jack, I reads, 'Give not de good meat 
to de dogs nor put de pearls before de swine,' maybe 
de come and eat you, but if de mate be in de East 
Indies and I be in de West Indies, I likee him all 
right, so I goes back to Martinique." 

The Sabbath day dawned clear and beautiful, the 
surrounding harbor and the little city nestled at the 
foot of the great hills on the eastern side of the har- 
bor seemed quiet and restful; indeed, the harbor and 
its surroundings appeared more fitting to a Sabbath 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 359 

morning than any I had witnessed in other seaports 
that I had visited. The old Dutch merchants had 
left an impression upon some of the people that one 
rest day in seven w^as necessary, from a commercial 
standpoint if nothing else. The orb of day first 
showed itself on the top of the western hills across 
the harbor, enveloping them with radiant splendor. 
In a few minutes it flooded the city and harbor with 
light, life and beauty. It was glorious ! 

By eight bells I had finished rubbing up allthebrass, 
while the crew were wiping the paintwork and mop- 
ping the decks. A Russian frigate, the only war vessel 
in port, gave the signal for eight bells, and all the 
ships in the harbor ran up their colors. As we were 
not allowed to fly the United States pennant at 
Shanghai, Mr. Stover determined to try it at Naga- 
saki, so we sent it up to the main truck over our 
burgee. No one objected, for the Japanese didn't 
care what kind of a flag we flew, and the Russian 
frigate was not clothed with the necessary authority. 
By the way, the Japanese from the beginning of their 
commercial intercourse with the outside world reg:'i- 
lated and governed their own seaports. 

After breakfast, there being no Bethel ship in port, 
and so far as we knew no Divine services held on 
shore, for up to this time no Protestant missionaries 
had located in Japan, all hands were invited aft. Mrs. 
Benjamin read the Scriptures. Truly, the little service 
was impressive. 

The crew were then given liberty to go on shone, 
the starboard watch, until one P. M., the port watch 



360 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

from one to six P. M. The cook went on shore 
with the starboard watch, and I assisted the steward 
with the dinner. At one P. M. the captain, Mrs. 
Benjamin, the steward, Mr. Stover and his watch 
went on shore, and Mr. Fletcher and his men came 
on board. They brought with them a number of 
curios, some fancy workboxes and Httle cabinets, 
some silk patterns, etc. Mr. Fletcher said: 

"Jack, get the glasses and we will take a look 
around the harbor." 

The city of Nagasaki covers a broad valley on the 
eastern side of the harbor, surrounded by lofty hills. 
The entrance between Ogami and Megami Points 
is only a quarter of a mile wide. The harbor broad- 
ens gradually toward the city. About two miles 
above the city it narrows again, with shoal water. 
The anchorage grounds are spacious and the harbor 
is completely landlocked. The entrance was well 
fortified; batteries were located at different points. 
On Megami Point there were three, one above the 
other. In entering, a ship must pass under these guns 
within cable distance. An enemy would be obliged 
to silence these batteries before passing them. 

There were six foreign vessels in port, including 
the Russian warship and an old Russian frigate, 
which had been dismantled in a typhoon, moored 
close under the western shore, and abandoned a num- 
ber of years before. Mr. Fletcher had heard that she 
was to be refitted. Only a few junks were visible. 
They were lying above the city and scarcely any 
boats were moving about the harbor, excepting those 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 361 

belonging to the foreign shipping, going to and from 
the landing. 

Our friend, the Dutch brig, was lying quite near us. 
Her second mate came on board during the after- 
noon. He and Mr. Fletcher had a pleasant conversa- 
tion about their old voyages and the country. I 
listened and asked some questions. He was a Nor- 
wegian, John Nilson by name, and had been in the 
United States Navy and on Commodore Perry's flag- 
ship in 1853-4. He had made two voyages to Naga- 
saki from Holland, and several on the coast. 

"Did you fall in with the little bark 'Maryland' 
at Hong Kong, sir?" I inquired. "Yes, she came in 
from Shanghai and was chartered for Nagasaki and 
will probably arrive here within a week or two. The 
'Maryland' is the smallest bark I ever saw. Why, 
she will only carry three hogsheads of molasses, two 
in the hold and one on the main hatch," he said 
jokingly. 

"Mr. Fletcher," I remarked, "we may fall in with 
Tom's brother, sir." 

"Sure enough, Jack, I never thought of that," he 
answered. "Mr. Nilson, are there any other ports 
in Japan open for trade?" asked Mr. Fletcher. 

"Nagasaki," he replied, "is the only port opened 
on this island, the island of Kiusiu. Kanagawa, situ- 
ated on Yedo Bay, the east coast of Nippon, and also 
Hakodate on Yesso island are treaty ports, but there 
is little trade there as yet. Nagasaki is growing 
apace, and you will probably make several trips here 



362 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

before you go around to Kanagawa. How do you 
like the people here?" 

"Very well, sir," replied Mr. Fletcher, "they are 
polite and I note that they have a good degree of 
self-respect. I reckon that they would not allow a 
squad of drunken sailors to take charge of the town, 
not even the water front." 

"There are no rum shops here, sir," said Mr. Nil- 
son, "I am sorry to acknowledge, however, that such 
things always follow Christian civilization. There is 
a kind of wine here, which they call 'sakky.' It will 
intoxicate if indulged in too freely, and it is better 
to steer clear even of that, especially as the shop 
keepers offer you cake an tea. Nagasaki is one of 
the five Imperial cities of Japan. Its population is 
about fifty thousand, and is increasing rapidly. The 
city is under the jurisdiction of a governor, holdings 
his appointment from the Tycoon. The people are 
good natured, honest and industrious. It is a capi- 
tal crime to steal. They use chop sticks, as the 
Chinese do, but the ladies do not have small feet 
nor the gentlemen long finger nails. All the mar- 
ried women here have their teeth dyed black. It 
makes them appear very uncomely to us. I think 
that the custom will soon be abolished." The sec- 
ond mate then asked Mr. Nilson if the Japanese had 
a navy. 

"Not a ship, sir; I have heard that they have pur- 
chased a small gunboat, but have never seen her. They 
are an enterprising, vigorous people, and the outside 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 363 

world will hear from them in course of time. They 
are hampered now by internal disorder." 

"Bang! bang!" belched forth from a couple of guns 
on the hill back of the city. 

"Hello, what does that mean, sir?" asked Mr. 
Fletcher. 

"It means, sir," our visitor answered, "that a war- 
ship is coming into port. One gun is a signal for 
a merchantman, two for a war vessel. I understand 
that they signal all the way to Yedo by firing guns." 
After inviting- Mr. Fletcher to visit him on board the 
brig, Mr. Nilson took his departure. 

Mr. Fletcher sent the boat on shore for the cap- 
tain, Mrs. Benjamin, Mr. Stover, the steward and 
others of the crew who might be at the landing. It 
was four bells. Supper was ready, and in order to 
help the steward, I went below and prepared the 
table for him. All the absentees were at the land- 
ing and came on board together. All were much 
pleased with their trip on shore, especially Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. She and the captain were entertained by the 
American consul, who introduced them to some of 
the city dignitaries in their homes. Mrs. Benjamin 
was an object of great curiosity. Many of the people 
whom she met had never seen a European lady. Her 
manner of dress attracted much attention. 

At five bells, that evening, a full rigged ship made 
her appearance at the entrance of the harbor and 
came up the bay under full sail. She proved to be 
the United States sloop "Germantown" from Hong 
Kong. She was the same ship which we met just 



364 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

before we sighted the Saddle islands near the mouth 
of the Yang-tse-Kiang River, on our way to Shanghai. 

A full rigged ship, under full sail, especially a war- 
ship, is majestically beautiful. The hull, spars, rig- 
ging, sails, all appeared to be filled with animation. 
It was a treat for me to watch the "Germantown" 
come to anchor, as I had never witnessed such a 
sight. Just before reaching the widest part of the 
harbor, off Minage Point, the best anchorage for 
large ships, she began to shorten sail. Everything 
excepting her three topsails, jib and spanker was 
taken in and furled so rapidly that they seemed to 
have simply vanished out of sight. In a moment the 
yards were lined with men. They appeared, in the 
distance, like small boys. They then took in their 
jib, fore and mizzentopsails and brought the ship up 
into the wind with the maintopsail to the mast and 
the spanker-boom hauled over to the windward. 
When the ship had lost headway, the anchor was 
dropped, and as soon as she gathered a little stern 
board, the maintopsail and spanker were taken in. 
By the time that a sufficient length of cable was 
payed out, the topsails, jib and spanker were furled 
up snug. A boat was then sent ahead a half cable 
distance in order to regulate the yards by the top- 
ping lifts. They were also made perfectly square 
by the braces. The ship was moored perfectly with 
a buoy floating over the anchor, and everything com- 
plete. The work was accomplished as smoothly as 
clock work, without noise, a bo'sw'n's whistle only 
was heard, now and then. All of this quick work 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 365 

was the result of thorough training and strict dis- 
cipHne among the officers and men. 

The "Germantown" was not a commodore's ship, 
consequently it did not have a full band of musicians 
on board, a bugle, cornet, fife and drum furnished 
very inspiring music, I thought. 

The second mate said : "Jack, it's about sundown. 
We will stand by our colors. You watch the 'Ger- 
mantown' and see what happens." 

I looked and saw four men running up the fore, 
main and mizzen-rigging, two on either side, two 
rested at the topgallant-yards and the other two at 
the royal yards. In a few minutes the sundown gun 
was fired from the Russian frigate, the senior war- 
ship in port. Immediately the little band on board 
the "Germantown" struck up one of our national airs, 
always played in the American Navy at sundown. 
As the stars and stripes were hauled down, the top- 
gallant and royal yards were sent down simultaneous- 
ly. The Russian went through the same manoeuvers, 
but the American was ahead at least thirty seconds, 
which was gratifying to us. After playing several 
sacred pieces, such as "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," 
and "The Day Is Past and Gone, the Evening Shades 
Appear," all was quiet. 

"They will give us another tune at two bells. Jack." 
said Mr. Fletcher. 

There were no salutes fired, nor visits exchanged 
between the two warships nor to and from the shore, 
as it was the Sabbath day. At nine P. M., a gun 



366 Voyage of '''The Two Sisters/' 

was fired as a signal to turn in for the night. The 
band then played "Home, Sweet Home." 

The following morning at eight bells, we ran up 
our ensign. The warships crossed their topgallant 
and royal yards (sent them aloft) the "Germantown" 
a little in the lead. As the stars and stripes were 
run up to her peak, the band played "The Star 
Spangled Banner." 

Just at this time the Japanese ensign, a white flag 
with a bright red ball in the center, representing the 
rising sun, was run up to the fore-truck on board 
the "Germantown" and a salute of twenty-one guns 
belched forth, which was answered from one of the 
shore batteries. The Russian frigate then saluted 
the American flag, to which the "Germantown" re- 
plied with another twenty-one guns. The report of 
these big guns echoed from hill to hill, back and forth 
across the harbor, resounding as though a thunder 
storm had visited us. The Russian commander then 
visited the "Germantown." 

As we were setting the captain ashore that morn- 
ing, the captain's cutter, of the "Germantown," 
pulled up. She was manned with six oars. We 
made no attempt to keep the lead, but gracefully 
allowed them to pass by. The two captains saluted 
each other and passed the time of day. During the 
first part of the day all hands were kept busy get- 
ing ready to take in cargo. Cargo pennants were 
sent aloft, purchases roven off over the main and 
after-hatches, also on the mainyard-arms. Skids and 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 367 

fenders hung over the sides. In the afternoon sev- 
eral tons of cargo were taken in. Mr. Fletcher had 
charge of the starboard side of the hold; Mr. Stover 
and Mr. Wilson took the port side. I was busy keep- 
ing tally of the boxes and bales, as they were taken 
in, and in taking care of the gig. 

The following Sabbath was partly cloudy. All the 
English-speaking people in the harbor were invited 
to attend Divine services on board the "German- 
town." Captain and Mrs. Benjamin, Mr. Fletcher, 
Wilson, the gunner and several others of the crew, 
including myself, took advantage of the opportunity. 
There were twenty-five visitors. The services were 
held on the berth-deck. The chaplain preached a 
good sermon, and both the vocal and instrumental 
music were very inspiring. 

After the service we were shown about the ship. 
Everything on board was in the very best possible 
condition. The "Germantown" was not nearly as 
large as the English flag-ship. She carried twenty 
big guns and several small ones on her spar deck. 
The berth-deck was quite spacious and well ven- 
tilated and lighted. The cabins, cook's kitchen, sail- 
room, etc., were located on this deck. The magazine, 
all of the ship's stores, the "sick bay" (hospital), and 
the "brig" (lockup) were below the waterline. When 
the ship was launched the ladies of Germantown, 
Penna., presented her with a large silver ship's bell. 

"Mr. Fletcher, how much longer will it take us to 
load up and get away, do you think, sir?" I asked. 



368 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"We have got only about one hundred and fifty 
tons of cargo aboard so far," he replied, "but I un- 
derstand that after this the freight will come along- 
side as fast as we can take care of it. It will prob- 
ably be about two weeks before we get ready for 
sea. The starboard watch will go on shore this after- 
noon. Suppose you ask leave to go along with us." 

"All right, I would like to go, sir," I answered. 

Now, it was a question with me of whom I should 
ask permission to accompany the watch. I was afraid 
that if I asked Mr. Stover, he would refuse, and I 
knew that if the captain gave me leave and I did not 
ask Mr. Stover, that he would be angry. I then re- 
membered that when I was promoted from cabin boy 
to sailor boy, the captain said that I should be sub- 
ject to the orders of Mrs. Benjamin, whenever she 
needed my services, so I decided to ask her opinion. 

Mrs. Benjamin thought that it would be proper 
for me to go, and the captain had no objections, 
yet I was a little fearful of running up against the 
mate. Mrs. Benjamin, who was ever thoughtful of 
the feelings and prejudices of others, cleared the coast 
for me. 

"Jack," she said, "in order not to offend Mr. Stover, 
you had better speak to him about it. You may 
say that I told you to ask his permission. 

"Thank you, ma'am," I replied. 

The captain then supplied me with two dollars' 
worth of Japanese legal tender, consisting of some 
paper money and twenty copper coins, called 
tempos. A tempo is a flat, oblong coin, having a 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 369 

square hole in the center, weighing about half an 
ounce. I went on deck and finding the mate, said : 

"Mr. Stover, Mrs. Benjamin told me to ask your 
leave to go on shore this afternoon with the star- 
board watch, sir." 

"Mrs. Benjamin told you, eh? Why didn't you 
ask me in the first place?" 

"Mrs. Benjamin said it would be a good thing for 
me to go, sir, and that I had better ask you about 
it," I answered. 

"Don't you go ashore four times every week day? 
Isn't that sufficient?" muttered the mate. 

"Yes, but I don't get uptown any sir," I said. 

"Don't get uptown, eh? What do you want up- 
town? I suppose you will have to go if Mrs. Ben- 
jamin says so," said the mate. 

"Jack, if you are going along with us bear a hand 
and get ready. We will be off in a minute," said 
Mr. Fletcher. 

We were soon at the landing. Mr. Fletcher, Wil- 
son and I set out in company with each other. It 
was a heathen city, with only a few European resi- 
dents, consequently there were no open bar rooms. 
The stores were arranged beautifully. All being 
opened in front, with tier above tier of highly pol- 
ished lacquer ware, steel mirrors, work boxes, glove 
boxes and cabinets, of different sizes and designs, 
fancy fans and silks, tops and other toys, and all man- 
ner of curios. The shop keepers were courteous, and 
quite active in soliciting trade, some of them treating 



370 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

us to cake and tea, which was generally delicious. 
The cake was like our American sponge cake. 

The city was not crowded like the city of Shanghai 
with its unsanitary, narrow streets. It was laid out 
more like our large towns, with several wide streets 
and a spacious square, shade trees, detached houses, 
gardens, etc. The dwelling houses are always neat 
and the city was clean. The floors of the houses 
were padded and covered with matting, which was 
held in place by thin, narrow battens tacked across 
the floor from both directions forming squares of 
about three by three feet. They did not use chairs, 
but sat on the floor in these padded squares. The 
rooms are formed by sliding partitions and can be sub- 
divided if necessary. The partitions or panels are 
made of light material, and a door is opened wher- 
ever convenient by simply sliding one of them. 

The people slip off their sandals before going into 
their houses. When the streets are muddy they use 
wooden sandals with a piece across the heel and toe 
from two to three inches in height. I spent all the 
money I had in buying little work-boxes an^ tea- 
boxes, trays, tops and other trinkets. We all met at 
the landing at six P. M. and went aboard, well 
pleased with our trip ashore. 

Two weeks have passed. The "Two Sisters" is 
loaded and again ready for sea. In the meantime 
the bark "Maryland" had arrived from Hong Kong. 
Tom's brother proved to be one of the crew. After 
proving his identity, Tom's things were delivered to 
him. We told him about his brother's life while on 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 371 

board the "Two Sisters," and of his conversion, and 
his death. Mrs. Benjamin gave him the Bible and 
other books which Tom had read. 

"All hands get under way," ordered Mr. Stover. 

It was eight A. M. The morning was partly cloudy 
and the wind light from the west. We were lying 
head to the wind and tide, and desired to cast on 
the starboard tack. We therefore mastheaded the 
topsail-yards and proceeded to get under way in the 
same manner as at Shanghai. The "Germantown," 
Russian frigate, and several other ships were lying 
below us.' We bid each other good-bye by dipping 
our ensigns. We made all sail, except studdingsails, 
and soon passed down the harbor and out of the 
bay, a distance of about seven miles. We then set 
our studdingsails and took our departure from Sig- 
nal Head, the north point of Iwo Sima island, course 
west southwest, about the eighteenth of April, 1859. 

Our anchors were not lashed across the forecastle- 
deck and chains unshackled, as for a long voyage, 
but simply made secure at the catheads and on the 
rail, and the hawse-pipes caulked. We passed Asses 
Ears at ten P. M. that evening. The wind then 
died out; and we were in sight of the group all of 
the next day. While we were drifting, the gunner 
had some target practice. We headed up an empty 
beef barrel for a target and as it was water tight, it 
set well up out of the water. Our gunner hit at the 
sixth shot. The cask was about two cables away/, 
and if it had been a pirate junk, every shot would 
have gone crashing into her. 



372 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Three cheers for the cross of St. George !" ex- 
claimed Sam, as the crew were gathered on and 
about the forecastledeck during the last dog- watch 
that evening. 

"Faith, it's meself that'll bay after cheerin' fur auld 
Ireland and fur the cross of St. Patrick," shouted 
Chips, as he sprang to his feet and swung his cap in 
the air. 

"I'm thinking mair 'bout the heather and thistle, 
the birdies and flooers and ma ain highland lassie in 
me far aw^ay hame and the cross of St. Andrew of 
my ain countrie," said Scottie, one of our new men. 
This little burst of patriotism from Sam, Chips and 
Scottie attracted the attention of all present. I 
thought that I would like to take a hand in the dis- 
cussion, at least by proxy, so I ventured to ask Wil- 
son what his views were upon the subject. 

Wilson straightened up a bit and said, "Shipmates, 
I always like to see a man stand up for his country, 
his native land, the home of his birth and childhood ; 
but as I have told some of you before, I was born 
at sea, on the equator, under the Norwegian flag, 
without a country. The first five years of my life 
were spend on board of a ship. I then became an 
orphan, threefold, having neither parents, home nor 
country. I passed my boyhood days in old Norway 
and Sweden; and after I was grown, I went to the 
States, where 'a man is a man if he's willing to toil.' 
Shipmates, I believe that the United States of Amer- 
ica is the best country under the sun. Well, I sailed 
out of New York and Boston for several vears. I 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 373 

then felt the need of a country to hail from. The 
Yankees took me in and I signed allegiance to their 
constitution and to the stars and stripes. Now I will 
propose that we run up the 'star spangled banner' 
in the midst of the three crosses, that of St. George, 
of England, St. Patrick, of Ireland, and St. Andrew, 
of Scotland,- all blending together, and then harmoniz- 
ing with the double eagle of Russia, the black eagle 
of Prussia, the crescent of Turkey, the tricolor of 
France, and the red, yellow, red of proud old Spain, 
whose royal standard was the first flag to cross the 
Atlantic, .and we will demand universal peace; that 
war shall cease in all the earth." 

''Good ! good ! Wilson," exclaimed several of the 
listeners. 

"Sure, an' it's the millennium you're thinkin', Wil- 
son. Faith and it's comin' sure," said Chips. The 
Lord reigns by the Holy Sperit in the hearts of his 
Saints thits on the airth to-day, as I understand it ; 
but sure, he's comin' Himself in pearson sume day 
to reign over all the nishuns, thin shill universal pace 
cume to pass." 

"I agree with you, Chips," said Wilson, "but I be- 
lieve that every nation should do its best to bring 
it about. I knew that when Christ shall come, with- 
out sin unto salvation, to reign on the earth, the 
world will enjoy the full fruition of man's highest 
ideals of reform. There goes eight bells. Jack, and 
it is our watch below. Chips, we'll turn in and dream 
over the subject. Good night, Sam, keep a good 
lookout for pirates, eh ?" 



374 Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters/' 

The following day the wind was fair, but light. We 
passed Pallas Rocks about midnight, but did not sight 
them. All hands were set at work scraping the 
bright work about decks, varnishing, painting, etc. 
As the trip across to Shanghai would be of short 
duration, we did not have watch and watch. Mrs. 
Benjamin had promised to tell me something more 
about Japan. When she had anything especial to 
say to me she always planned something for me to 
do in the after-cabin, so after breakfast that morning 
I was ordered to report to her for service. 

"Good morning. Jack, while you are making up 
the berths and polishing up the wood work, I will 
tell you more about the land of the Rising Sun." 

"I will be very glad to listen, ma'am," I answered. 

"The empire of Japan," began Mrs. Benjamin, "is 
composed of four large islands, Kiusiu, Sikok, Nippon 
and Yesso, and also a large number of small ones, Nip- 
pon, the largest and mostimportantof these, and which 
gives its name to the whole empire, is more than seven 
hundred miles in length, northeast and southwest, 
and its breadth varies from fifty to a hundred and 
fifty miles. South of Nippon and separated from it 
by a narrow channel is Kiusiu, lying northeast of 
Kiusiu and eastward of the south extreme of Nippon 
is the island of Sikok, about three hundred miles in 
length. It is separated from Kiusiu by the Bungo 
channel and with Kiusiu and the western part of 
Nippon, forms a basin or an inland sea named Seto- 
uchi. North of Nippon and separated by the strait 
of Tsugar is the large island of Yesso, a conquest 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 375 

and colony of Japan. Just at this point the captain 
entered the cabin. It was five minutes to high noon, 
apparent time. We were sailing to the westward, 
consequently losing one minute in every fifteen miles. 

"Mrs. Benjamin," said the captain, as he took up 
his sextant, "I want to find the longitude this noon 
by double altitudes; if you will please take down the 
time (chronometer time) for me, I will take the first 
observation now. Jack will stand in the companion- 
way and pass the word to you." 

"I will be ready in a few moments, captain," said 
Mrs. Benjamin as he went on deck. 

We made Amherst Rocks at noon, seventy-six 
hours after weighing anchor at Nagasaki. We had 
calms and light variable winds during the passage. 
A European pilot boarded us a little to the eastward 
of Ariadne Rock, wind northwest, about the last of 
the ebb. We worked up as far as Wu-sung that 
evening and meeting a head tide, we anchored for 
the night. The next morning, at two A. M., we 
again got under way and sailed up to Pheasant Point. 
There we had the wind dead ahead, and took in 
foretopsail and spanker and headed across the river. 
On reaching the opposite bank we hauled down the 
jib and backed the maintopsail and sailed the ship, 
stern first, back across the river again, then filling 
away the maintopsail and hoisting the jib, sailed back 
again as at first. This method of sailing across the 
river back and forth is called backing and filling, the 
current in the meantime taking the ship up or down 
the stream according to the flood or ebb. We arrived 



376 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

at the city and moored opposite Frenchtown, in about 
the same locaHty as before, and discharged the pilot 
at eleven A. M. 

In the afternoon a custom officer came on board 
and we began discharging cargo. Lang Su, our 
sampan boy, was alongside before we dropped anchor. 
As he had proved to be a faithful boatman, he was 
re-engaged. We were not surrounded with sampans, 
for the boys knew that Lang was out of employ- 
ment, consequently, the "Two Sisters" belonged to 
him, as it were. Bomboats, market boats, tailor 
and laundry boats were well represented. All of the 
crew, excepting Wilson, Sam, Chips and the gun- 
ner, were paid off. The cook also left us in about 
a week, having found a ship bound to Boston. The 
captain gave him a good recommendation in writing, 
and he was greatly pleased to find Mrs. Benjamin's 
signature added to it. 

"Jack, I keeps de Bible, I reads him, I say, missis 
tell me some things, too. On de Boston ship I no 
finds de missis nor Jack, but de Lord he tells me, 
I gets to Boston; I goes to de mission. If de 'Two 
Sisters' come back to de States, might be I see him. 
I come board. Tell him Sunday be good man, hunt 
de pirate quick." 

"That's right. Cook," I said, "If you should ever 
fall in with the 'Two Sisters,' come aboard. You may 
not find me, but probably the captain could tell you 
where I could be found. We will all miss you very 
much." This was true, for he was a good man as 
well as a good cook. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 377 

In about two weeks after arriving at Shanghai we 
were again ready for sea, bound for Nagasaki in 
ballast, with a large amount of specie on board. The 
same pilot who brought us in took the ship out. His 
name was Moore, and he hailed from Baltimore, 
Maryland. After I arrived home I learned that he 
was a brother of a lady who lived in the next house 
to my mother's. We took our departure from 
Amherst Rocks on our second trip to Nagasaki about 
May 5, 1859. 

"We ought to make Amherst Rocks by six A. M. 
tomorrow 'morning," said Mr. Stover. 

"Yes," replied the captain, "that will be soon 
enough. I don't want to get in there before day- 
light. We might not be able to pick up a pilot, so 
I think we had better take in the degallantstunsails, 
skysail, royals and upperstaysails." 

The wind was south southeast, blowing fresh. We 
were steering west by south. It was the fourth of 
July, 1859. We were returning to Shanghai from 
Nagasaki on our fourth trip. Nothing unusual oc- 
curred during the last three trips, with the exception 
of the third trip, when we took over a set of spars 
for the dismantled Russian frigate. We always went 
over in ballast, but brought back a full cargo. W^e 
took, generally, some passengers back and forth. 
On our second trip to Japan, in May, there was 
among the passengers a missionary; and on our third 
trip, in June, 1859, another missionary took passage 
with us. These gentlemen, I understood, were con- 
nected with the Episcopal Board of Missions and 



3/8 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/'' 

were the first Protestant missionaries to locate in 
Japan. 

On the following morning a pilot boarded us be- 
tween Amherst and Ariadne Rock. A little before 
reaching the light-ship we met the British flag-ship, 
"Gibraltar," (Sunday's ship) bound out. Of course, 
we looked for Sunday and located him in the main- 
top, swinging his cap high over his head. We 
answered his salutation, Mrs. Benjamin waving her 
handkerchief vigorously. We dipped our ensign 
while passing. The "Gibraltar" was a powerful ship- 
of-war, having among her crew gallant and heroie 
men, with officers of high rank, yet it was not the ship, 
nor her men, nor her officers which attracted our 
special attention ; it was a poor, humble, Malay Chris- 
tian in the maintop. No doubt that Sunday thought 
as we did, "When shall we meet again." We arrived 
at the city that afternoon and made preparation for 
discharging cargo. 

The following day was the Sabbath. Wilson and 
I attended divine service on board the Bethel ship. 
The chaplain was glad to see us. He said: 

"You may tell your captain, my lad, that I visited 
Sunday on board the 'Gibraltar' and learned that 
he was progessing rapidly in all his duties." 

After dinner Mr. Stover proposed that I go ashore 
with Mr. Fletcher and Wilson. This was quite re- 
markable for him, though he was, at times, really 
kind to me. We visited American, English and 
French towns, and called at the Sailors' Home where 
several old shipmates were met. We spent a very 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 379 

pleasant afternoon, and went aboard at six P. M., 
having steered clear of bar rooms and all such places. 

The following Saturday was a day of great excite- 
ment to the whole community, especially among the 
Chinese living in the walled city. It happened that 
there was only one war vessel in port, the French 
frigate, "Forte" a sailing ship. She was in the dry 
dock, and some of her big guns were on board a 
lighter. The insurgents, having learned of this fact, 
took advantage of their opportunity and made an 
attack on the, city (Shanghai). It was fortunate that 
the warship was in a condition to be floated. As 
soon as possible, therefore, the ship was floated and 
hauled out into the river, in position, and then she 
began shelling the insurgents. They did not return 
her fire, but continued their operations against the 
city. It was feared that the insurgents would cap- 
ture it, or destroy it by hre. Late in the afternoon 
three English men-of-war came rushing up the river, 
and as they steamed up above the city, the rebels 
withdrew out of range, in double quick time, and 
the old historic city was saved. In the evening 
marines were landed from the warships and patrolled 
the European towns, assisted by their respective resi- 
dents. 

About the twentieth of July we were ready for sea 
again, bound for Nagasaki in ballast as usual. We 
had several passengers, but Mrs. Benjamin remained 
at Shanghai. We passed out of the Wu-sung river 
at four P. M. and worked down the Yang-tse and 



380 Voyage of "The Two Sisters. 



anchored a little outside of the bar for the night ; 
wind southeast by east, blowing strong. 

During the night the wind increased to a gale, and 
the following morning it had not abated in violence. 
The ship rolled heavily, especially during the ebb, 
as the tide was running against the wind. We were 
riding to one anchor, with sixty fathoms of cable, 
good holding bottom. At six A. M. a strong flood 
tide having set in, it was deemed necessary to let 
go the starboard bower (biggest anchor). Then it 
was discovered that the port-cable had cut through 
the hawse pipe and was eating down rapidly into the 
wood work. We payed out fifty fathoms of star- 
board cable. Of course, it was impossible to get 
our port anchor at that time, and in order to take 
all the strain off the cable, it was necessary to pay 
out one hundred and fifty fathoms. 

It continued to blow heavily all day, but moder- 
ated during the night. The next day we got our 
anchors, after some difficulty in getting the port one, 
having to heave in the cable over the bow. We then 
returned to Shanghai for repairs, and anchored off 
Americantown at sundown. The passengers went 
ashore until we were ready for sea again, which was 
three days later. 

On the second day Mrs. Benjamin, with some lady 
friends, came aboard and took dinner. "You ought 
to have been over to Nagasaki, by this time. Jack," 
she said. 

"We are chartered by the month, and it's not worth 
while to go to sea disabled, ma'am," I answered. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 381 

''The truth is, ma'am, we are not getting along very 
well without you." 

"Well, Jack, you must try again and do your best," 
she said. 

On the twenty-fifth of July we got under way and 
proceeded to sea without further mishap. During 
the first night out we had a dead calm. The ship 
drifted to the northward of Shaweishan (seventeen 
and one-half miles north of Amherst Rocks). Much 
anxiety was manifest among all hands. It is need- 
less to say that everyone was well equipped and 
ready for a sudden attack from pirates. It was quite 
dark, and with muffled oars they could row up within 
a short distance of us before being discovered. We 
fired blank cartridges now and then so as to warn 
any who might be after us. The cause of our alarm 
and precaution was in the fact that we had on board 
two hundred and seventy-five thousand Mexican dol- 
lars, the largest amount of specie we had ever car- 
ried to Japan at any one time. This was a great 
temptation and inducement for pirates ; for, if they 
captured the ship, the spoils could be disposed of 
readily. Another reason for anxiety was due to the 
fact that after the specie was taken aboard, the ship 
was detained several days before getting to sea and 
had been becalmed near the coast during the night. 
We knew that the pirates had emissaries who always 
kept them posted of such matters. Nothing occurred, 
however, through the night to warrant our sus- 
picions. 



382 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/' 

"If they planned an attack for to-night, sir, they 
are a little late," said Mr. Stover. 

"It is better late than never with those fellows, if 
they ever get after us," replied the captain. 

As the day dawned and the darkness disappeared, 
quietly and beautifully the morning light enveloped 
the surrounding ocean, making it look like a sea of 
glass. 

"Sail ho, right astern, sir," shouted the second 
mate from the maintopmast cross-trees. 

"All right, come down," answered the captain. 

All hands were on deck in a moment, including 
passengers, cook and steward, every man of them 
well armed. Our big guns had been placed during 
the night just forward of the break of the quarter- 
deck, so as to have a good range over the stern. 

"He is coming up on us and doesn't appear to have 
any wind. They must be rowing. I think I can 
see the flash of their oars through the glass. Take 
a look, Mr. Stover," said the captain, handing the 
glass to the mate. 

"They are rowing, sir, and that's the fact," said 
Mr. Stover. 

In the meantime Mr. Fletcher had been sent aloft 
with a glass to observe the stranger. He then re- 
ported three other junks in line astern of each other. 

"All of them must be using oars, sir, as they are 
close together," said the second mate. 

The "Two Sisters" was lying perfectly helpless, 
scarcely under steerage way. It was now sunrise, 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 383 

and the great light of day shed his brightness, 
warmth and life, glorious both in abundance and in 
magnificence, and, like all God's providental gifts, 
distributed equally on the just and the unjust; upon 
the evil as well as the good. 

"Gunner," said the captain, "except the Lord of 
heaven and earth direct your fire, we will all be good 
for sharks before the sun goes down this night." 

"Needn't be halarmed, sir," answered our gunner, 
who had served his time in the English navy, "hex- 
cept they git ha land breeze hand come hup hon us 
quick, hi can smash hevery one hof 'um, before they 
over'aal us." 

His confidence in his ability to smash the fleet in- 
spired us with courage, especially when we remem- 
bered the target practice. 

"Gunner, send a shot in their direction, and we will 
run up our ensign and introduce ourselves, and de- 
termine whether they are really pirates," said the 
captain. 

"Bang!" went one of our pieces. As nearly as we 
could observe, the ball did not quite reach them. Im- 
mediately they swung out of line and proceeded four 
abreast with all "possible speed. 

"Men ! that proves their identity," exclaimed the 
captain, "stand by the gunner and obey his orders." 

We opened fire on the two inside junks. The crew 
supplying the ammunition and keeping the guns cool 
and reloading them as quickly as possible. Our sails 
had been wet down and everything done to take ad- 
vantage of the first breeze that might favor us. As 



384 



Voyage of "The Two Sisters/ 







fe 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 385 

our spars were much taller than those of the pirates, 
we would feel the least breath of air aloft sooner than 
they. 

''Captain, if they once get alongside, it will be all 
over with us, sir," said one of the passengers, "they 
have earthern jars filled with powerful chemicals 
which they throw on deck, and when broken the 
fumes are so strong as to poison the air, so that it 
is impossible to breathe near one of them. They are 
worse than musket fire." 

"They are not coming alongside if we can prevent 
it, and I think we can," replied the captain. 

"Three cheers, three cheers for the gunner," 
shouted the captain. All hands answered with a will. 
The captain was watching the result of our firing. 

No shots had taken effect. There was some con- 
fusion on board the two middle junks. They had 
dropped a little astern, but had regained their posi- 
tion with the other two. They had opened fire on 
us, but all their shots had fallen short. 

A little air began stirring aloft. The light sails 
were filled and the "Two Sisters" felt it and re- 
sponded to her helm. The pirates had also felt the 
breeze, and with the aid of their oars were coming 
up on us. Their shots were skipping along danger- 
ously near, on either side of us. 

The passengers and some of the crew were much 
alarmed. I thought that we would surely be taken. 
Officers and gunner, however, were confident. 

"We'll give um ha dose hof shell," said the gun- 
ner, as they loaded both pieces with those deadly 



386 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

missiles. He then trained them on one of the junks 
which was a Httle in advance of the others, exclaim- 
ing, "Hi'll wager, hi'll put 'im hout hof commission." 

One shell took effect, entering the bow and burst- 
ing amidships, completely disabling the fellow, for 
he dropped astern and did not resume the chase. 

We kept the "Two Sisters" directly before the 
wind, having the maintopgallanttopmast and lower- 
studdingsails set on both sides, which gave us a wide 
spread of canvas. This was an advantage over the 
pirates, as they were under fore and aft sails. The 
wind had freshened a little, and this gladdened our 
hearts. All hands gave a yell of defiance, for another 
junk was put out of action. 

"Hit's fine sport to smash um hup, hisn't it, hold 
girls?" ejaculated the gunner, as he patted his guns. 

The remainding two junks had ceased gaining on 
us, but they kept up a vigorous fire. One of their 
shots struck our taffrail, on the starboard quarter, 
and two others pierced our lower studdingsails. At 
the beginning of the engagement the captain ordered 
me to supply the men with drinking water, and to 
assist them any other way that I could. 

"Gunner, I am glad they haven't any shells," said 
the captain. 

"Too long range fer um, sir, savin' um till they 
git nearer," answered the gunner. 

We had ceased firing for several minutes, in order 
that our guns might cool. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 387 

"They are overhauling us, again, sir, coming up 
with a good breeze," said Mr. Stover. Just then a 
shell burst close astern of us. 

"Hi'll speak to um hagain, sir," said the gunner. 
He then took accurate aim at the leading junk and 
fired. Down went his foremast as the shell ex- 
ploded, proving disastrous, undoubtedly, to a number 
of the cutthroats. 

There was only one junk remaining, and that one 
came pressing on with renewed determination, think- 
ing, doubtless, that they could capture us. They 
probably knew that there were only nineteen lives 
between them and two hundred and seventy-five 
thousand dollars. If they could burst three or four 
shells on our deck, the lives, the specie and the ship 
would be at their disposal. Those of us still alive 
they would put to death, as their maxim is, "Dead 
men tell no tales." They would then transfer the 
provisions and valuables and scuttle the ship as quick- 
ly as they could. Our two big guns, however, 
handled by a trained gunner, proved to be our great 
salvation. After loading both guns and training them 
on the only pursuing junk, and getting accurate aim, 
we very soon disabled him, and he was forced to give 
up the fight. 

"Three rousing cheers and a tiger for the gunner 
and for all hands !" shouted the captain. 

After the cheering, which must have been heard 
by our enemies, we drew a long breath of relief, and 
doubtless every one offered up a prayer of praise and 
thanksgiving for deliverance. 



388 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters." 

"Let us indulge in a little sarcasm, and if there 
are any Europeans among them, they will understand 
it," said the captain. 

We then run up the signal, "Hope to meet you at 
Shanghai in the near future." 

A light breeze was blowing from the southeast. 
We took in our studdingsails and hauled up sharp 
on the starboard tack, heading east by north, half 
north, with a good full. Just then some smoke was 
seen to the southward. 

"It was a steam vessel of some description, bound 
to the northward, perhaps she is a warship and has 
heard the cannonading, and is on her way up the 
coast to investigate. If so she will pick up some of 
those fellows before they reach the land," said the 
captain. 

After the pirates were beaten off, and the ship 
straightened out on her course, we realized that we 
were hungry. I was detailed to assist the cook and 
steward in preparing breakfast. The best the "Two 
Sisters" could afford was soon made ready. After we 
had all enjoyed a hearty meal, the starboard watch 
went below. 

The slight damage which the "Two Sisters" had re- 
ceived during our encounter with the pirates was re- 
paired in a day or two, and no one would have imagined 
that we had just emerged from a running fight of 
three hours with four pirate junks. Our escape from 
such deadly foes afforded us matter for conversation 
for a long time, especially when we called to mind the 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 389 

many vessels that had been captured, of which not 
one was left among their crew to tell the tale. 

We arrived at Nagasaki without experiencing 
further casualties, on the morning of the twenty- 
ninth of July. It was very warm at the anchorage 
between the high hills, during the middle of the day. 
There was generally a breeze from the southwest 
during July and August, which blew through the en- 
trance to the harbor. As there was plenty of room, 
we run out our kedge and hauled the ship crosswise 
of the channel so as to get the full benefit of the 
incoming -breeze. This method is adopted by nearly 
all the ships which are at Nagasaki during the hot- 
test months. It was thought to be conducive to the 
health of the men. I can testify that it was much 
cooler on board the "Two Sisters" when moored in 
that position. 

Among the several other ships in port was Her 
Majesty's ship the "Roebuck," also the Russian 
frigate, whose crew had been engaged in refitting the 
disabled ship, the spars for which we had brought over. 
The frigate proceeded to sea the following day, bound 
for Kronstadt, Russia. While she was passing out, 
the British ship, and the Japanese battery saluted 
the Russian flag, which was answered. 

Our cargo was ready, and in two weeks we were 
prepared for sea. A few days before we sailed, the 
commander of the "Roebuck" came on board. He 
congratulated all hands, especially the gunner, for the 
victory over the pirates. He replenished our maga- 
zine, at the request of Captain Benjamin. The cap- 



390 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/^ 

tain also received from him some information re- 
garding the best route to Yokohama, as the officers 
of the "Roebuck" had just been surveying the east- 
ern coast of the Island of Sikok and up through the 
Vraga Channel into the Gulf of Yedo, 

The scenery on shore was beautiful. The hills were 
gorgeously attired in a mantle of green, decked with 
blossoms. The city itself was filled with flowers and 
fruit of many varieties, indeed, almost every house 
was like a flower garden. 

During the latter part of July, 1859, a treaty was 
ratified between Japan and Great Britain. This great 
event was celebrated in Nagasaki on the thirteenth 
of August. All the shipping in the harbor took part 
in it by displaying their bunting. Salutes belched 
forth from the war vessels and fortifications. It was 
a day of rejoicing among the Europeans, and more 
especially among the Japanese. This fact was sug- 
gestive when we remembered their past history and 
considered the opposition to foreign intercourse still 
existing in some parts of the empire. On the follow- 
ing day we sailed for Shanghai. We had a pleasant 
passage across the Yellow sea, with southerly winds, 
and anchored abreast Frenchtown on the evening of 
the sixteenth of August. 

Mrs. Benjamin came aboard, immediately. It was 
well known on shore that we had had an encounter 
with pirates, and she had been fearful that some of 
us had been killed. She was quite well. We were 
glad to see her. She shook hands with all the crew 
and complimented each one us. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 391 

"You did so remarkably well that I think I shall 
remain on shore another trip," she said. 

"We were glad that you were safe on shore," I 
answered. 

"It must have been awful, Jack. When I heard 
about it, I was very anxious," continued Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. 

The smoke, which we saw on the morning of our 
escape from the pirates, proved to be from the 
Chinese gunboat, "Confucius." She was of European 
construction and was bound into the Yang-tse from 
the South. Her officers, hearing the report of big 
guns to the northward, at once proceeded under full 
speed in that direction to investigate. As Captain 
Benjamin had suspected, they kept well in shore and 
succeed in intercepting and capturing two of the 
pirate junks. The other two had been abandoned 
and sunk. Those captured could not prove them- 
selves to be honest merchantmen, and besides two 
of their men, in order to save their lives, confessed 
to the authorities. The pirates knew the "Two Sis- 
ters" well, and knew that we always carried specie. 
They had been watching for an opportunity to cap- 
ture us, from the time of our first trip over. They 
knew something about our gunner and his guns, but 
they intended to pull up on us before daylight. There 
were eighty men of them ; our shot and shell killed 
thirty. Twenty-eight of them were executed at 
Shanghai and their heads suspended on the outside 
of the walls, the fate of all captured pirates among the 
Chinese. 



392 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

The "Two Sisters" had become quite famous. We 
received congratulations from all sides. It was real- 
ly an important event. Two bands of pirates had 
been completely annihilated, and valuable informa- 
tion obtained regarding another band. 

We were much surprised to find the American 
bark "Urania" in port. She was built within a cable 
from the birthplace of the "Two Sisters," although 
she hailed from New York. Her captain and second 
mate were "townies" of mine. I did not know them, 
however, but they knew of me. The "Urania" did 
not remain long on the coast. We never fell in with 
her again. A number of years after, she found her 
grave at Cape Town, South Africa. 

The great Taping rebellion was still going, at- 
tended by its horrible consequences. .It shook the 
whole empire ; the northern part being the most af- 
fected. General Lee Hung Chang, who became well 
known throughout Europe and America as a great 
statesman, was at that time commander and chief 
of the Imperial armies. 

On the last of August, 1859, we set sail again for 
Nagasaki on our sixth trip, Mrs. Benjamin remaining 
on shore. Among our passengers was a Mr. Walsh, 
one of the members of our charter party. He was 
going to Nagasaki in the interest of his company, 
and to act, for a time, as consul for the United States. 
There accompanied us, also. Dr. Jenkins and his wife, 
Methodist missionaries, stationed in China. They 
were going to Japan on a tour of inspection, as 
well as a pleasure trip. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 393 

We took our departure from Amherst ^ocks as 
usual, heading east, half north, sharp on the wind. 
It was my wheel. The captain and Mr. Stover talked 
over the probabilities ; winds, weather, current, etc. 

"I would like to head up about east. We must 
allow at least three-quarters of a point for leeway 
and current," said the captain. 

"We are scarcely making any leeway, at present, sir, 
but I don't know about the current," answered the 
mate. 

There is' a set extending between longitude 126 
degrees and 128 degrees which runs up through 
Korean strait, but its strength has not yet been de- 
termined," replied the captain. 

"Keep her a good full. Jack," he said as he went 
below. 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. 

Everything went well until four-thirty A. M., on 
the morning of the third day out. The weather be- 
ing thick, we had not had an observation for two 
days, but according to our calculations by dead reck- 
oning we were well to the windward of our course, 
and intended to make Signal Head about ten o'clock 
that morning. The wind was south, southeast, blow- 
ing a gale. We were under two reefed topsails, 
reefed foresail foretopmast and mizzenstaysail and 
reefed spanker. 

"Land ho, close on the lee bow, sir," shouted the 
lookout. 



394 Voyage of ""'The Two Sisters." 

"All hands tack ship," ordered the second mate. 

I rushed below to call Mr. Stover and the captain, 
but they being anxious about the ship's position, did 
not need to be called. I met them coming on deck. 

"We're on a lee shore ! Hard a' lee, bear a hand, 
my hearties," shouted the captain. 

It was thought that as the "Two Sisters" was un- 
der such good headway she could "come in stays" all 
right, but being in ballast, and a heavy sea running, 
she failed to tack. By the time that we filled away 
and got her under headway again, the land loomed 
up dangerously near to the leeward of us, so near 
that it was not deemed safe to attempt to wear ship. 

The captain examined his charts and hastily con- 
cluded that we were a long way to the leeward of our 
course, and among a group of islands about sixty 
miles to the northward of Iwo Sima. 

"It will be daylight before long, if we can only 
weather this island, I think that we will come out 
all right," said the captain. 

He then went aloft to get a better view, if pos- 
sible. It was very dark. In the meantime we had 
been crowding on all the canvas that the "Two Sis- 
ters" could stagger under. We were now so close to 
the island that its perpendicular side seemed to 
loom up over our heads. There were rocks and reefs, 
also, to the windward. The sea was breaking fearfully 
in every direction. We were, at times, completely 
submerged. Mr. Fletcher was on the foreyard, from 
which he could distinguish, a short distance away, the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



395 



iM. 

'A'ihiJi'i; 







i»/ 



396 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

white surf and the black outhne of the rocks and reefs. 
The captain came down out of the main-rigging. 

"Men, this is worse than pirates," he said. 

We were all much alarmed, expecting every mo- 
ment that the ship would be dashed upon the rocks, 
resulting in sudden destruction to life and property. 

Brave-hearted men are sometimes fearful, after 
they have done their best, and their best does not 
apparently avail. Mr. Walsh was on deck. He was 
somewhat of a sailor, and offered a suggestion now 
and then. Dr. Jenkins, the missionary, was also on 
deck for a time. He was not competent to render 
any service as a sailor, but he had a firm trust in 
God. 

"Captain, I can not help you any, but I know who 
can and I will go and invoke His Divine aid." He 
then went below, and with Mrs. Jenkins implored 
help from above. 

Just at the breaking of day we cleared the point 
of the island. As the daylight appeared we could see 
something of the dangerous passage through which 
we had sailed. All hands agreed that it was, indeed, 
a miracle that we ever pulled through. 

During the morning the wind and sea moderated, 
and at ten A. M. we shook the reefs out of the top- 
sails, set the topgallantsails and tacked ship. At noon 
the weather was still thick, and we did not get an 
observation. We set all sail and continued on the 
port tack. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 397 

Dr. Jenkins was an elderly gentleman, wh6 had 
been in China for many years and had traveled ex- 
tensively in that country, disguised as a native 
penetrating as far north as the great wall. 

"All of the costumes worn by the Chinese gentry 
are very comfortable," he said, "their shoes, however, 
turned up so abruptly at the toe that they cramped 
my feet. I found also that long nails were very in- 
convenient. I became so accustomed to their lan- 
guage, mode of traveling, table etiquette, chop sticks, 
etc., that I was not afraid of being detected as a for- 
eigner." 

Dr. Jenkins having become familiar with the 
Chinese language, both written and oral, besides a 
number of dialects which were used in different parts 
of the country, was very efficient in translating the 
scriptures, in which work he had chiefly been en- 
gaged. His reminiscences abounded in acts of labor, 
self-sacrifice and instruction, and, now and then, with 
amusing experiences. 

Mrs. Jenkins was much younger than the doctor, 
to whom she had lately been married. She had a very 
unpleasant experience on the second day out from 
Boston, on her way to China. On the morning of that 
day the captain of the ship was found murdered in 
his berth. The mate took charge of the vessel and 
returned to Boston. All hands were arrested and held 
on suspicion and for witnesses, especially the officers, 
steward, cabin boy and passengers, as they only had 
free access to the cabins. After the ship had been 
provided with an entire new crew, she set sail again. 



398 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

Mrs. Jenkins, after filing her affidavit, was allowed 
to proceed, and arrived safely at her destination, in 
due time. So far as she could learn the identity of 
the guilty person had never been proved. 

We arrived at Nagasaki the afternoon of the fifth 
day after leaving the Yang-tse. The gig was low- 
ered, and three men and I rowed the captain and 
passengers to the landing. Dr. Jenkins and wife 
were to return to China with us. There were al- 
ways some loungers about the landing and they had 
become quite familiar with the captain and me. They 
greeted us cheerfully. The "Two Sisters" was 
moored crosswise in the channel, as before, and 
everything made ready for taking in cargo. 

Within a few days, several vessels arrived from the 
coast of China, among which was our gallant friend, 
the United States sloop of war, "Germantown." They 
had all experienced a strong northerly current, which 
set them a long way to the leeward, as it had set us. 
The "Germantown" lost some of her sails ; yet the 
"Two Sisters" did not carry away even a rope-yarn. 

I had charge of the gig, as usual, and went to 
the landing at least twice every day, but did not go 
up into the city that trip. On our first sabbath in 
port, Mr. Fletcher, Wilson, Sam, Chips and I at- 
tended divine service on board the "Germantown." 
The chaplain recognized Mr. Fletcher and me, and 
gave us all a hearty welcome. Thinking that Chips 
belonged to another faith, he said: 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 399 

"There has been much conflict between our citeeds, 
carpenter, but I am glad that we can be one in 
spirit." 

"Sure, yer honor," Chips replied, " 'tis not in me 
head I's carrying me creed, but's in me pocket. Faith, 
sir, 'tis ther truth that I nade in me heart." 

After the service had been read the chaplain took 
for his text the Twenty-Third Psalm. 

It was a beautiful service, the discourse being 
spiritual and instructive, and the vocal and instru- 
mental music, attractive and inspiring. 

In a few days the "Germantown" sailed for Hong 
Kong. We never fell in with her again, as she was 
soon afterward relieved from the Chinese station by 
another ship. We missed the "Germantown's" com- 
pany very much, as there was no other warship in 
port during our stay. 

After being loaded with a valuable cargo, consist- 
ing of teas, raw silks, copper and lacquer ware, Dr. 
Jenkins and his wife came on board and we set sail 
again for Shanghai. We had been in port for eighteen 
days and were glad to have a change. As we had 
calm weather, most of the time, all hands were kept 
busy setting up and taring down the standing rig- 
ging, squaring ratlines, seizings, etc. Our gunner 
also took advantage of the smooth sea and indulged 
in some target practice, which resulted satisfactorily 
to him. Mrs. Jenkins trained and fired one of the 
guns. Her aim was not very accurate, the ball might 
have hit one junk in a fleet of half dozen, providing 
they were large enough. 



400 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

I had had several conversations with Mrs. Jenkins 
during the trip, in the course of which I tokl her 
about our voyage. 

"Jack," she said, "your mother certainly must pos- 
sess a brave, self-sacrificing spirit to allow you to 
leave home so young." 

"My mother felt very badly, ma'am," I replied,, 
"perhaps she thought, T will never see my boy again, 
as a child.' It makes me homesick even now to think 
about it." 

My last talk with Mrs. Jenkins occurred on the day 
before we arrived at Shanghai. As I was working in 
the after-cabin that day, she said : 

"Jack, if you would like to hear me, I will tell you 
something about the island of Kiusiu." 

"I thank you, ma'am, I will be glad to listen," I 
answered. "Mrs. Benjamin has told me about the 
islands of Nippon and Yeso and many other things 
about Japan and on our first trip over to Nagasaki, 
one of our passengers told me something about the 
bay and peninsula of Nagasaki, which are connected 
with the island of Kiusiu." 

"The word 'Kiusiu,' " began Mrs. Jenkins, accord- 
ing to Kaempfer, signifies 'country of nine.' It re- 
fers to its division into nine provinces. It is sixty- 
five leagues in length, from north to south, and 
forty leagues in breadth. It is separated from 
Nippon by the Simonoski Channel, which is the 
western entrance to the inland sea of Japan and is 
only half a mile in width. The strait which separates 
it from the island of Sikok, is also contracted at one 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 401 

point to ten miles in width. The strait of Van Die- 
men forms its southern boundary and the strait of 
Korea is on the western side. 

The great inland sea of Japan is called by the Jap- 
anese, Seto Uchi. It is enclosed between the south- 
west coast of Nippon, which entirely bounds it on 
the north and east, and the islands of Kiusiu and 
Sikok, which bound it on the west and south. It 
extends somewhat in an east and west direction 
about two hundred and forty miles long and from 
ten to thirty miles wide. It communicates with the 
Pacific by the Kii Channel on the east, Bungo Chan- 
nel between Kiusiu and Sikok on the south, and with 
the sea of Japan by the strait of Simonoski on the 
west. 

Very little is known to Europeans of the inland 
sea at this time. It is a direct route from Shanghai 
and vicinity to the east coast of Nippon. It will be- 
come eventually a great thoroughfare. It is not yet 
opened, however, to the commerce of the world." 

"There goes eight bells, ma'am, I am greatly 
obliged to you. What you have told me and what I 
have heard from others make me quite familiar with 
the general outline of the coast of the island of 
Kiusiu." 

We arrived at Shanghai on the following evening, 
all well. The next day Mrs. Benjamin came on board. 

"1 have had a pleasant vacation on shore. Jack," 
she said, "but I am glad to get back home again, 
aboard the 'Two Sisters.' " 



402 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"We had a very dangerous experience on a lee 
shore, ma'am, on our way over to Nagasaki last trip." 

"Yes, Jack, the captain, Doctor and Mrs. Jenkins 
told me about it. You did not make sufficient al- 
lowance for the current," replied Mrs. Benjamin. 

"We had had thick weather and could not get an 
observation, ma'am, was the chief reason," I said. 

"Well, Jack, the 'Two Sisters' will go to Yokohama 
for her next trip," said Mrs. Benjamin. "It is a port 
on the east coast of Nippon, and as it is new to you 
all, I think that I had better go along and assist, just 
a little." 

There were several warships in port and among 
them the U. S. gunboat, "Helena," a small vessel of 
barkentine rig. She was not as gallant a craft in 
appearance as the "Germantown." 

The usual routine of harbor work was carried on. 
When the cargo was discharged, I always enjoyed 
clearing up the lower hold. A dozen coolies would 
be placed in my charge ; I would have six on either 
side, some piling up dunnage and some using brooms. 
The poor fellows received only about twenty cents 
each for a day's labor. I remember how they would 
run hither and thither and seem to try their very 
best to please me. As it was the only opportunity 
I had to boss anyone, I fear that I exercised great 
authority over them. 

The gunboat "Confucius" steamed up the river 
with two pirate junks in tow, and anchored near us. 
She had forty pirates on board. As they were being- 
transported to the shore, there was great rejoicing 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 403 

in the harbor. "It is a solemn thing," I thought, "to 
see men going to their doom." The "Confucius" 
flew the Imperial ensign of China. This was the 
first opportunity I had ever had to observe it closely. 
The flag is a yellow ground bearing a hideous look- 
ing dragon and bordered with blue and white. An- 
other Chinese flag is nearly triang^ular in form with 
an indented border and bearing in its center a non- 
descript figure somewhat resembling a lizard. The 
Chinese national flag, officially announced as such in 
1872, is triangular in shape and made of deep yel- 
low bunting with a blue dragon in the center, snap- 
ping at a red pearl or ball. The Chinese emblem of 
the dragon dates back to the remotest antiquity. 

About the nineteenth of October we were ready 
for sea again, bound for Yokohama, and as our com- 
pany had not had any business^relations with that 
port, it was necessary to carry a supercargo. He be- 
came known to us as Dr. Hall, and a jolly old 
gentleman he was. Dr. S. W. Brown, D. D., and 
two other missionaries also took passage with us. 
Dr. J. C. Hepburn and wife preceded Dr. Brown and 
party, one month. They were the first missionaries 
of the Presbyterian Board of Missions to locate in 
Japan. 

Chips and Wilson were the only ones forward left 
of the original crew. Mr. Fletcher and the steward 
contemplated leaving the ship, as the conflicts be- 
tween them and the mate were increasingly frequent 
and severe. I was glad to have Mrs. Benjamin on 
board again for everything seemed to go more 
smoothly when she was present. 



404 Voyage of "^'The Two Sisters/'' 

The following day, as the wind was dead ahead 
we were towed down the Wu-sung River to Pheas- 
ant Point, just above the village of Wu-sung. The 
tug boat, before mentioned, had arrived in sections, 
had been put together and was now doing a brisk busi- 
ness on the river. After rounding Pheasant Point 
we began to make sail and the tug left us. We 
passed out of the Yang-tse by the light-ship, over 
the bar, and discharged the pilot ofif Amherst Rocks 
at two P. M., from whence we took our departure, 
wind from the north blowing fresh. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "we will steer for 
Cape Satano, course east, one quarter south (mag- 
netic) distance four hundred thirty-eight miles." 

"That will be our first stretch, sir," replied the 
mate, "that's only about fifty-one miles difference of 
latitude and 8 degrees 23 minutes longitude." 

"From Cape Satano to Cape Toyi," continued the 
captain, "our course will be east by north, distance 
thirty-five miles, from thence to Rode Island, north- 
east by east, half east, distance three hundred fifty- 
eight miles ; from Rode Island to the entrance of Yedo 
Bay, northeast, sixty miles, and from the entrance 
of Yedo Bay to the anchorage ofif Yokohama the 
course is northwest by north, distance about eleven 
miles. With a fair wind we will have to make at 
least nine hundred miles." 

"With a breeze like this and a straight course," 
said Mr. Stover, "we would soon reel off nine hun- 
dred miles, sir, but probably, when we get to the 
leeward of the islands the winds will be lighter and 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 405 

more variable. I think that this breeze will run us 
over to Satano." 

"Check in the weather braces and run up the lower 
and topmaststunsails," ordered the captain, after 
which the log was thrown. The ship was making 
ten knots. It was then four P. M. and everything 
having been made snug aloft and on deck, the star- 
board watch was ordered below. At noon, the fol- 
lowing day, we had made two hundred and twenty- 
five miles, wind still fresh, weather fine. 

During the forenoon of the following day we passed 
by some islands on the starboard hand, one of which, 
Volcano Island, stood up out of the sea to a great 
height, and looked like a gigantic pyramid. We al- 
ways passed near this island on our way to and from 
Yokohama. It was generally active, emitting smoke 
and flame. We passed Cape Satano that evening, 
from whence we took a new departure and headed 
for Cape Toyi, course east by north, distance thirty- 
five miles. The wind was light, ship hauled close, 
making six knots. The next morning, at two A. M., 
we rounded Cape Toyi, southeast point of the island 
of Kiusiu. Captain Benjamin came on deck and con- 
sulted with Mr. Fletcher. 

"We have got a long pull to the windward of about 
three hundred and fifty-eight miles," he said, "we 
pass up along the coast of the island of Sikok to 
Rode Island. 

"The wind is a little to the east of north, sir," re- 
plied the second mate. "With a good, stiff breeze, 



4o6 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/"" 

the 'Two Sisters' is in a fine condition to walk to the 
windward." 

"That's right," answered the captain, "we will have 
to make a long leg off shore, and if the wind does 
not die out, keep her a good full, sir, and take ad- 
vantage of every flaw." Then the captain went be- 
low. 

On the following afternoon of the eighth day out, 
I had another opportunity of gaining some more in- 
formation in regard to the Japanese Islands. The 
weather being mild and pleasant, Dr. Brown and 
party, Mrs. Benjamin and Dr. Hall were seated in 
the cock pit engaged in conversation. 

"Doctor," inquired Dr. Hall, "how about the earth- 
quakes in Japan? I must confess that I am very fear- 
ful of them." 

"I also dread them," said Mrs. Benjamin, "although 
I am not to abide in Japan, as you will." 

"I have never had any experience with earthquakes 
in Japan or in any country," answered Dr. 
Brown. "All that I know about the earthquakes 
of Japan has been gathered from books. The whole 
region of the Japanese Islands is volcanic, and many 
of the seaports are fraught with extreme danger to 
shipping. One occurred at Yedo in August, 1773, 
exceeding in horror and widespread desolation 
that of Lisbon. Another occurred at Yedo on the 
tenth of November, 1855, which is said to have caused 
the destruction of one hundred thousand dwellings, 
fifty-six temples and the death of thirty thousand 
persons. In 1854 the town of Simoda was reduced 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 407 

to ruins and the Russian frigate 'Diana' nearly 
wrecked in the harbor, being whirled around at her 
anchor many times, at one time aground, at another, 
the water many fathoms deep. She was then 
greatly damaged, and was lost subsequently in an in- 
explicable submarine tornado, while in tow of a num- 
ber of Japanese boats, which deserted her suddenly 
'at some warning, well known to them. 

"Yedo, the capital city, is about seventeen miles 
from Yokohama, but that is quite near enough for 
me," said Dr. Hall, "for the earthquakes that have 
happened there may happen again, and there's no 
man can tell how soon. We know that Europeans 
are not allowed even to visit Yedo, as yet, and I do 
not regret it." 

"It is necessary," replied Dr. Brown, "that we al- 
ways recognize the Scriptural injunction, 'Be ye also 
ready.' " 

"I thank you," said Dr. Hall, "for bringing up this 
subject. It will never, never do to evade the ques- 
tion pertaining to our eternal welfare until the time 
and article of death. It is said of an old farmer 
who realized the providential gifts of the Almighty, 
such as the rain and sunshine, seed time and harvest, 
that whenever he was approached on the subject of 
the future life, by the village Rector, he always argued 
that if he only had the time allowed him at the end 
of this life to utter even one sentence prayer, such 
as, 'Lord, have mercy upon me,' he would be sure 
of his salvation. He was warned ag"ain and again 
that the only time which belonged to him was the 



4o8 Voyage of """The Two Sisters/' 

present, and if time were granted him, his mind 
might be so perverted that he would fail to breathe 
out the prayer. It so happened that his end came 
suddenly, without warning, while he was on the way 
to market with a load of produce. While crossing 
a creek the bridge collapsed. Naturally, the farmer's 
mind reverted instantly to his own immediate safety 
and that of his team and produce, and not to spir- 
itual things, for his last utterance was 'The Devil 
take it!'" 

The evening repast then being ready, the little 
party repaired to the cabin. At eight bells that even- 
ing we hauled up northeast for Yedo Bay. We had 
calm weather through the night and during the next 
day, and light winds to the entrance of the bay. Our 
course up the bay to the anchorage off Yokohama, 
was northwest by north, distance about eleven miles. 
A good breeze then sprang up, which was very wel- 
come, but the wind being to the westward was, con- 
sequently, dead ahead. We made short tacks, using 
the hand lead freely. 

After working up abreast the town, we came to 
anchor on the evening of the thirty-first of October. 
By the time everything was furled up snug, it was 
eight P. M. We had no communication to or from 
the shore that evening. The following morning the 
gig was lowered, and three men and myself rowed 
the captain and passengers to the landing, about 
three-quarters of a mile from the ship. 

There were no constructed landing places nor piers 
at Yokohama, in those days. There was only a long 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 409 

stretch of sandy beach, white and clean. A few na- 
tives met us on the beach and welcomed us. I found 
the Japanese always courteous and entertaining. 
They never force their company abruptly on foreign- 
ers. After landing our party, we pulled back to the 
ship. It was the first day of November, 1859. 

Dr. Brown and party were very kind to me dur- 
ing the passage. They interfered in my behalf sev- 
eral times when Mr. Stover had his little tantrums. 
No doubt they thought I would be injured and were 
constrained to take my part. The good men did it 
for my benefit, but it didn't work out for my good, 
as the mate always objected to interference with his 
method of discipline. They did not "understand the 
ropes" as well as Mrs. Benjamin. Nevertheless I 
appreciated their kindness. I never saw Dr. Brown 
or any of his party again, but often heard of them 
as doing a great work for their Master. They lo- 
cated at Kanagawa. 

During the forenoon a Custom House boat came 
alongside, and an officer was duly installed on board. 
At sundown all the hatches were supposed to be 
sealed, and the officer returned to the shore until 
the following morning. It was evident that the man 
was not familiar with the construction of ships' 
hatchways, etc. Being in ballast, our hatches had 
not been taken off during the day, but were covered 
with tarpaulins and were battened down just as they 
are when the ship is at sea. At sundown the officer 
proceeded to seal the fore and main hatch combings 
down to the deck. He thought that the hatches and 



4IO Voyage of 'The Two Sisters/' 

combings were all of one piece and could be taken 
out. The after-hatch was kept open by way of the 
booby hatch. The next day the officer recognized 
his mistake. After this the hatch bars were sealed 
or locked. 

One morning, Mr. Stover, being fretful and cross, 
and over anxious to get into the lower hold to set 
the men at work, broke the seals, thinking that they 
did not amount to anything. The Customs author- 
ities came on board to investigate. Captain Benja- 
min endeavored to excuse the matter by pleading 
the mate's impetuosity and carelessness, but he suc- 
ceeded only in part, for it cost the ship five hundred 
Mexican dollars. 

One Custom ofiticer could talk good English and 
I enjoyed conversing with him. He told me many 
things about Japan, the people and their customs, and 
about Yokohama and its surroundings. Yokohama 
is on a plain, surrounded by low hills, and is en- 
compassed by a canal which entirely isolates it. The 
only communications are by bridges and causeways 
toward Kanagawa, from the rear of the town on the 
west, and with the Yokohama Bluffs by another 
bridge close to the sea. The eastern part of the 
town was eventually set apart for the European resi- 
dents, the Japanese merchants occupying the west- 
ern portion. 

Yokohama, meaning "cross shore," is the port for 
the foreign trade of Yedo. In 1854 it was a small 
fishing village, but after it supplanted Kanagawa as 
the treaty port of Yedo, in 1859, it grew gradually. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 411 

In the seventies the Government enlarged the canal, 
built stone piers and laid out a number of streets. 
It is at present one of the most important sea-ports 
of the Far East, having all the modern facilities and 
improvements. At the time of our first visit there 
was only one principal thoroughfare. It was about 
fifty feet wide, extending parallel with the water 
front. It was built up on either side, some parts 
were compact with shops, dwelling houses, places of 
amusement, etc., like Nagasaki. 

The shops were beautifully arranged, filled with 
goods to suit the foreign taste, such as lacquered 
ware of rare quality and bronze work, baskets and 
porcelain, fancy silks and embroidery, curiosities, and 
various other articles. The exports were silk, tea, 
rice, copper, fancy articles in lacquered ware, sea 
weed, oil, firewood and horses. The imports were 
cottons, woolens, metals and such like. 

Yokohama Bay is situated to the northward of a 
ridge of low hills, extending into the Bay of Yedo, 
ten and one-half miles north northwest from Kanot- 
saki. This ridge terminates quite abruptly at the sea 
in a line of bluffs, one and three-quarters miles in 
length and from one hundred to one hundred and 
twenty feet in height, of which the southern, treaty 
point, is of a conspicuous yellow color and the east- 
ern. Mandarin Bluff, has been named from its shape. 
"Haycock." These bluffs and a steep bank, which 
fronts them to the distance of three quarters of a mile, 
protect the anchorage from southwesterly winds, the 
only winds which send any sea into the bay. The 



412 Voyage of '"''The Two Sisters/' 

extremity of the shoal water off Treaty Point bears 
southwest, three-quarters south from the anchorage. 
Mandarin Blufif, southwest by west, and the mouth 
of the canal, west quarter north, 

Kanagawa is situated at the head of the bay and 
on its north side. It is one of the ports opened by 
treaty, but was changed by general consent to Yoko- 
hama on the south side, owing to the more eligible 
position for business and communication, the land- 
ing being much better. It is located on the Tokaido, 
or Imperial highway to Yedo. Foreigners were free 
to go where they pleased within the following limits : 
from Kanagawa, ten ei (twenty miles) in any direc- 
tion, except toward Yedo. The boundary in that di- 
rection was the river Logo, which empties into the 
Bay of Yedo between Kawasaki and Singwaga, the 
southern suburb. 

The Custom House was located in Yokohama, but 
the government officials and the foreign consuls re- 
sided at Kanagawa, exclusively. There was no trade 
carried on there; in fact, we never landed on that 
side of the bay. 

There were three Russian and one English war- 
ships in port and several merchantmen, of different 
nationalities. 

The great Fujiyama, the largest of all the volcanoes 
of the East, with its peak piercing the clouds, could 
be seen plainly from the deck of the "Two Sisters." 
When it was active its appearance at night was grand 
and glorious, but it must be awful in its vicinity. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 413 

Streams of red hot lava flowing down its eastern 
slope could be defined easily from the anchorage. 

Fujiyama is at the head of the Gulf Sumga, fifteen 
miles inland, though in clear weather it appears near 
the beach. It is held to be sacred by the Japanese 
and is the object of pilgrimages. The first Europeans 
who ascended it were a party of eight Englishmen, 
at the head of which was Sir Rutherford Alcock, C. 
B. The crater on the summit is one hundred yards 
long, sixty wide, and three hundred and fifty deep; 
the peak is fourteen thousand, two hundred and sev- 
enty-seven feet high. (Latitude 35 degrees 21 min- 
utes north, longitude 138 degrees 42 minutes east). 
On approaching the coast, in clear weather, the 
mountain is visible for one hundred miles. 

Dr. Hall was obliged to make his home on board 
for a week, until suitable quarters could be secured 
on shore. In the meantime the specie had been car- 
ried on shore to the Exchange and some cargo had 
been purchased and taken on board. Mexican dol- 
lars were not legal tender at Yokohama, hence it was 
necessary to get them exchanged for Japanese money, 
which consisted not only of paper currency and copper 
tempos, as at Nagasaki, but also a small square silver 
coin, called "ichaboos." Three ichaboos and fifteen 
tempos, or their equivalent in paper, were exchanged 
for a Mexican dollar. 

For some reason, which I did not understand, they 
fixed the rate of exchange according to their own 
pleasure and not according to the demands of for- 
eigners. Perhaps they could not procure their own 



414 Voyage of "The Two Sisters.''' 

coins in sufficient quantity to meet the demand. It 
was a hindrance to trade during the few months that 
these conditions prevailed. It was evident, however, 
that the exchangers did try to divide fairly between 
the merchants, shipmasters and sailors, according to 
their necessities. All manner of devices were resorted 
to by the Europeans to get as much money in ex- 
change as possible. At one time I accompanied Cap- 
tain Benjamin to the Exchange. After he had se- 
cured all the legal tender he could get, he handed 
me fifty dollars to get exchanged for him. The four ex- 
changers were bright fellows. One received cash, an- 
other tested the coin, the third kept the account and 
the fourth paid out. As I got into line I thought I was 
quite a financier. 

Stealing was a capital crime in Japan, consequently 
little precaution was taken to prevent it. The ex- 
changers were not protected by steel bars and grated 
windows, but had open counters in front of them, and 
everything was in plain view. When I presented my- 
self with the fifty dollars they knew that I did not 
really have fifty dollars of my own to spend. The 
cashier took only ten dollars to exchange for me, say- 
ing, "Too much money for small boy." 

I then retired into the crowd and handed over the 
cash to Captain Benjamin. One of the exchangers 
noticed my actions and the cashier called to me, and 
said: 

"Boy, I will exchange forty dollars for you." He 
knew very well that I did not have a dollar and en- 
joyed a hearty laugh at my expense. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 415 

Until after we had made several trips we could ob- 
tain no fresh beef at Yokohama except by procuring 
a live beef and dressing it on board of the ship. The 
Japanese did not use beef for food and would not al- 
low any to be slaughtered on the shore. The cattle 
were used as beasts of burden and were generally in 
poor condition for food. 

The second Sabbath in port was a fine day and Mr. 
Fletcher, Chips, AVilson and I went ashore at nine 
A. M. to take a stroll around town. We first exam- 
ined a wreck which was high up on the beach. We 
were told that it was a United States cutter, and 
that she had been wrecked some years before in a 
a typhoon. The vessel was on a surveying expedition; 
she was in quite good condition. Her spars were 
missing and there was no name visible on her hull. 

The shop keepers were just as entertaining as they 
were at Nagasaki, and their shops were arranged even 
more beautifully. Grapes, oranges, cake and tea were 
in abundance and very cheap. 

"Faith," said Chips, "they trate us loike gintle- 
men." 

"There is no reason why they should not," an- 
swered Wilson, "if we act like gentlemen." 

Mr. Fletcher, knowing the powerful temptation 
that the bar room was to him, remarked, "Shipmates, 
it's easy to be a man in a town like this." 

"Yer right, sir," said Sam, "hit's 'ard fer ha poor 
sailor to hact like ha man in hold Hingland, with 
hall hit's open bars." 



4i6 Voyage of '^The Two Sisters/' 

"The rum shop is the great curse of the Christian 
world," replied Wilson. 

I bought some tops, trays, fans and glove boxes. 
Mr. Fletcher treated me to fruit and cake. After 
going over the town and seeing what there was to 
be seen, we returned on board at two P. M., well 
pleased with our visit. 

Our sails had been loosened to dry during the day. 
The spanker and the other fore and aft sails were 
partly hoisted. At four P. M. we began to furl the 
sails. Mr. Stover had been overhauling his chest and 
brushing up his shore clothes. It happened that he 
hung up his best coat to one of the mizzen-shrouds 
and the throat halyard. When we came to take in 
the spanker I ran to the throat-halyards. Mr. Stover 
shouted from the opposite side, "Lower away, lower 
away." 

Just then I noticed his coat, which caused a little 
delay in executing the order. He came rushing 
around the mizzenmast, "Lower away, I tell you, 
lower away." 

I endeavored to explain, but he, being excited and 
thinking that I was talking back to him, slapped me 
in the face ; this caused me to let go of the halyards 
quickly with the result that a portion of the mate's 
coat remained in the rigging and the other part was 
carried aloft. 

Mr. Stover then proceeded to chastise me severely; 
while I took my own part the best I could. By the 
time that his shirt was nearly torn off and I had re- 
ceived several more slaps, the captain rushed on deck 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 417 

and caused the warfare to cease ; but peace was not 
declared until Mr. Stover finally left the ship. 

Mrs. Benjamin visited on shore for two weeks as 
a guest of the United States consul and family, at 
Kanagawa. When she came on board I told her. as 
usual, of the principal events during her absence. 
AVhen I came to the incident of the mate's best coat, 
Mrs. Benjamin reproved me mildly. 

"Why, Jack," she said, "an angry passion took pos- 
session of you." She then quoted a verse of the Ser- 
mon on the Mount (Matt. V, 39) : "But I say unto 
you, that ye resist not evil : but whosoever small smite 
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." 

I knew that Mrs. Benjamin was right, but wishing 
to justify myself, said, "I am sorry, ma'am, but I 
am not built that way." 

"AVe are all built alike,'" she replied, "and it de- 
pends upon who has charge of the craft, the captain 
or the crew. You know that the captain directs and 
commands and the crew obey and serve. The Spirit 
of God within us is the Captain, our flesh is the crew; 
when the crew takes charge of the ship, everything 
goes wrong; it is mutiny. So when the flesh assumes 
control, there is confusion and strife." Mrs. Benja- 
min then explained the passage quoted above. 

"Jack," she said, "when Mr. Stover struck you, if 
you had held fast the halyards, he would have seen 
his coat and that would have been in your case like 
turning the other cheek also. You would then have 
fulfilled the Scriptures and the results would have 
been better for all concerned. I do not approve of 



41 8 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/'' 

the mate's conduct, but we are responsible only for 
the discipline on board our own little craft." 

After Dr. Hall was established on shore, the cargo 
came off quite rapidly, so that by the twenty-eighth of 
November we were nearly loaded. Stowing away 
the cargo and keeping the ship clean kept all hands 
busy. One morning, while using our force-pump we 
lost the suction hose overboard, and while dragging 
for it picked up a long kiar hawser with a Japanese 
anchor attached. The anchor consisted of a shank, 
about six feet in length, with four prongs or flukes. 

On the afternoon of our last Sunday in port, the 
Customs officer and I were left on board alone for a 
time, having full charge of the after portion of the 
ship. Wilson and several of the crew were forward 
to help in case of a sudden squall. I thought it was 
a capital time to make a demonstration before my 
Eastern friend, the Customs officer. 

I threw some bottle overboard, got out one of our 
rifles and proceeded to have target practice. I was 
chagrined because the officer did not commend me 
when I hit a bottle, but guyed me when I djd not, 
which was three times to one. The officer would not 
practice with the gun. He assured me that with his 
sword he could do better execution than I could with 
a rifle, and to prove his assertion he drew it and 
brandished it over my head and about my body, ap- 
parently to convince me. I did not enjoy the drill, 
as he played with his cold steel so dangerously near 
me as to make me fairly quiver. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 419 

The Japanese are expert swordsmen. Their swords 
are made of steel of a quality that is not surpassed; 
they are so perfectly tempered that with them a piece 
could be chipped from a hammer and they are kept 
sharp enough to cut a silk handkerchief in twain. 

During the evening we were treated to some en- 
tertaining music from the warships; the national and 
popular airs of the different nations must have been 
appreciated by all Europeans within hearing distance. 
I enjoyed such pieces as, "Star Spangled Banner," 
"Hail, "Columbia," "Rock of Ages," and "Hark the 
Herald Angels Sing." 

On the last of November we proceeded to sea with 
a valuable cargo, bound to Shanghai. During the 
passage I had several talks with Wilson, Sam, and 
Chips. They had all decided to quit the ship as 
soon as we arrived. We had been shipmates for four- 
teen months; they had always been kind and help- 
ful to me from the first day out from New York, and I 
had become attached to them. I pleaded with them 
to stay by, and told them that the captain and Mr. 
Fletcher appreciated their services, and even Mr. 
Stover said they were good men. 

"We are glad to hear it," said Wilson, "you know 
that we chaps have never had any serious rows with 
the mate, but he has trouble with some one on board 
the ship almost every day, and we are tired of his con- 
tinual growling and strife." 

"Wilson, why don't the captain discharge him?" I 
inquired. 



420 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

"Well, Jack, as I am not the captain I cannot say," 
replied Wilson, "probably the mate shipped for three 
years or until the 'Two Sisters' returned to some 
home port." 

"If I were the captain, Wilson, I would tell Mr. 
Stover a thing or two," I said. 

"Jack," said Wilson, "there could be no discipline 
on board a ship if the captain openly rebuked his offi- 
cers; they must agree, apparently, at least, in the 
presence of the crew. You may tell the old man and 
Mrs. Benjamin, after I leave, that they are the best 
people I have sailed with since I was a child in ni}'- 
father's ship, and, Jack, my lad, I shall never forget 
you and the many good talks that we have had dur- 
ing these last fourteen months. We have had some 
dangerous and sad sea experiences. Each of these 
taught us a lesson which will leave a lasting impres- 
sion. Another thing, Jack, I shall never forget my 
promise to Tom." 

"Hi ham of the same hopinion," said Sam, "Hi 
shall halways remember the 'Two Sisters,' the hold 
man and the hold woman. Chaps, ye know hi 'ave 
halways been hin the mate's watch, so hi knows 'im 
better than the bothers of you, but hi don't care to 
know 'im hany longer. Jack, hi will think hof you. 
Hi showed you 'ow to furl hup the skysail, 'ow to 
send the yard down, hand 'ow to cross hit hagain. 
Then, Jack, hin hour talks you 'ave told me so much 
habout the good Book, ban hits Hauthor." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 421 

"I remember about it all, Sam, and I thank you 
for all that you taught me. Do not forget all that 
I have told you and do not forget your promise." 

"Sure," said Chips, "I niver was in the mate's 
watch, and it's a blessed thing for both of us; he's 
no carpenter, ye know, so he niver had much to do 
with me work. The captain is a gintleman and the 
ould woman is a Christian. Faith, ind thot's the 
truth, I niver see the loikes of her before. Jack, me 
hearty, it's many a knick-knack ye have brought me. 
Many is the kind words ye've given me. May the 
God of the hivens and the airth bliss ye and make 
ye a blessing to yer old mother all the days of her 
loife. Hurrah, shipmates, I'm off fer the ivergreen 
fiel's of ould Ireland to make me ould girl glad once 
agin. Chaps, it's likely enough we'll mate agin some 
day." 

"Well, we may," I answered, "but I am sure that 
if we all keep our vows we shall meet at the golden 
landing in the Eternal Harbor, where the inhabitants 
never meet hurricanes nor pirates, and shall never 
more be driven upon a lee shore, and where there is 
no more sea, and our shipmates never die." 

Everything went well during the passage, with the 
exception of the inevitable wear and tear of sails and 
rigging, and the usual amount of growling and scrap- 
ping between Mr. Stover and the crew. We had a 
dead beat to the windward, from Cape Satano to 
Pheasant Point on the Wu-sung River, distance about 
four hundred and eighty miles. Wind from west, 



422 Voyage of "^The Two Sisters/'' 

northwest to north, blowing a stiff breeze most of the 
time. 

We fell in with a European pilot between Sha- 
weishan Island and the Amherst Rocks, and as the 
tide was just making flood, we worked up the river 
like a top. We arrived at Shanghai on the eighth 
of December. The trip was the most pleasant that 
we had made, and I heard the captain remark, "the 
most profitable one." 

The day following, all of the men forward, except- 
ing Bob, a cockney chap, were paid off. We were all 
sorry to see Wilson, Chips and Sam go over the side 
for the last time; even Mr. Stover shook hands with 
them and expressed regret ; he also said some pleas- 
ant things to me about them. I never saw them 
again. 

We passed Christmas in port. It was clear and 
cold. Ice formed on deck while we were washing 
down that morning. The captain and Mrs. Benjamin 
were invited on shore, but they preferred to remain 
on board. The steward prepared a good Christmas 
dinner, consisting of roasted ducks, plum pudding, 
mince pie, nuts, fruit and Chinese confectionery. The 
warships in the harbor furnished delightful music. 

In the afternoon Mr. Fletcher and I went on shore. 
We called at the Sailors' Home and there learned 
that Wilson, Sam and Chips had joined the British 
ship "Windsor Castle," bound for London, England, 
and had sailed a few days before. I was glad that 
they were together, as they had a good influence over 
one another. After leaving the Sailors' Home, the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 423 

second mate's appetite for strong drink asserted it- 
self, and he headed straight for the bar, where the 
rocks and breakers could be seen right in the channel. 
I knew that it meant certain disaster to any frail bark 
that attempted to sail through it. 

"Jack," said Mr. Fletcher, "I am going across the 
street, I will be back in a minute or two." 

I remonstrated with him. "Mr. Fletcher," I said, 
"we are having a good time without going over 
there and, beside, don't you see those chaps hove 
to about the door, they look as though they might 
go down, at any minute, and if anything should hap- 
pen that I could not stand by you, sir, as Wilson did, 
I would not like to go back to the ship and report 
without you." 

"All right. Jack, my lad," he said, "we will keep 
away on our true course, under full sail." 

I had a very enjoyable Christmas day. When I 
went to my berth that night a feeling of homesick- 
ness crept over me when thinking of home and loved 
ones, far, far away. I knew that they were think- 
ing of me. We had been separated for fifteen months. 
I comforted myself with the thought that in about 
eight months I would be sailing home again with 
flying colors. I did not forget the origin of Christ- 
mas day, nor Him who doeth all things well, and I 
thanked Him for His love and protection. 

We sailed from Shanghai on the first of January, 
1860, bound for Nagasaki. This proved to be our last 
trip to that port. In forty-eight hours we rounded 
Signal Head and entered the Bay of Nagasaki. After 



424 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

passing Papenburg Bluff we were becalmed, l^e- 
tween Megami and Ogami Islands, at the entrance 
of the harbor; there we met an ebb tide and were 
obliged to anchor for the night in twenty-five 
fathoms, over rocky bottom. 

The next morning we barely escaped being 
driven on the rocks, while getting under way. It 
was found that our anchors were fast in the rocks. 

The captain sent up to the town for assistance. 
Our consignees sent down thirty-five small boats to 
tow us up to the harbor. With much difficulty we 
succeeded in getting our anchors and then proceeded 
up to the city, in tow of the fleet of small boats, which 
were manned by about one hundred men, all sculling 
vigorously. 

We had a cargo to discharge, before taking one in, 
so it was necessary to lay in Nagasaki that trip about 
twice as long as usual. There were no warships in 
port, consequently we did not have any music ; in fact, 
it was quite dull. I missed Wilson, Chips, Sam and 
the cook. Mr. Stover had occasional rows with the 
men, which, at times were exciting and never pleas- 
ing. On board of a ship the captain and his officers 
generally pull together and take each other's part ; 
but the mate's ultimatums were so arbitrary that he 
always had to fight his battles single-handed. In most 
of them he would come out best, owing to the fact 
that he was clothed with authority; sometimes, how- 
ever, he got punished severely. 

Bob, the cockney chap, was a clever fellow, about 
twenty-five years of age. He and I became quite 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 425 

chummy, but the other sailors we had on that trip 
were a hard set of men, although they appeared to 
appreciate Mrs. Benjamin's words of advice and the 
books and tracts which she gave me to distribute 
among them. 

AVe sailed from Nagasaki for Shanghai the first of 
February, and had a stormy passage with wind 
from westnorthwest to northwest. We l^egan to 
shorten sail immediately after passing out of the bay. 
As the weather was threatening and the wind blow- 
ing heavily, we settled dowm for the night under two- 
reefed topsails and reefed courses, foretopmast and 
mizzenstaysails, jib and reefed spanker. At eight P. 
M. our foresail was blown away; after tying up what 
was left of it, we took in the mainsail and jib, two- 
reefed the spanker, and hauled down the mizzenstay- 
sail. Mrs. Benjamin was ill, and I was ordered to 
attend to her wants. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "I know you had 
much rather be on deck watching the storm than to 
be sitting here by me." 

"I am sure, ma'am, that I could not be engaged in 
any better service than to attend to your needs." 

"Thank you. Jack," she said, "I expect to be well 
again in a few days. You may go on deck now." 
Everything on deck and aloft had been made snug 
and the port watch had gone below. 

"Mr. Fletcher, the wind is veering a little to the 
northward," said the captain ; "if we can weather the 
Pallas Rocks we will make a good stretch of it after 



426 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

all ; it will probably moderate to-morrow. At pres- 
ent, the barometer is at a stand still; if it falls any- 
more, we will heave the ship to." 

"Snap! Bang!" went the foretopsail. 

"All hands on deck, shorten sail," shouted the cap- 
tain. 

After rescuing the foretopsail we close-reefed the 
main, took in the spanker and set mizzenstaysail. We 
then hauled down the foretopmaststaysail and 
brought the ship into the wind. We remained hove 
to for seventy-two hours on the starboard tack, and 
drifted one hundred and seventy-five miles to the 
southward, after which it moderated. 

My birthday was passed at sea. It was clear and 
cold, wind northwest, blowing fresh. We were work- 
ing our way to the windward. I was then fourteen 
years of age and thought myself quite a man. Mrs. 
Benjamin had recovered her health. 

"Here is a nice, warm cap. Jack, for your birthday 
present. I think it will fit you," she said. 

"Just the thing, ma'am," I said, as I tried it on. "I 
will much appreciate it, for the nights are cold. I 
thank you for your kindness." 

We arrived at Shanghai and anchored off French- 
+own in about our usual berth on February ninth. In 
sailmg up the river we passed a number of English 
and French warships, moored on the north side of 
the channel, between Pheasant Point and Wu-sung 
village, just above the Soochow Creek. 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 427 

By the time our cargo had been discharged it was 
the first week in March. Some of the warehouses 
belonging to the company had been burned and this 
caused delay. Five of the crew were paid off; the 
rest of us were kept busy, painting ship, inside and 
out. Lang Su, our old sampan boy, had been engaged 
to tend the ship. He had been visiting his home at 
Ningpoo for several months. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "our year's charter ex- 
pires to-morrow, the fifteen of March. You remember 
that I told you it would soon pass away, and so it 
has. There is a greater demand here for vessels for 
the Japanese trade than ever before, and we must not 
be disappointed if the 'Two Sisters' should be char- 
tered for another year." 

"I will try and make the best of it, which ever 
way it may be, but I had much rather that we would 
load for home. I wouldn't mind it if we went across to 
San Francisco, as my father and other relatives are 
living in California." 

"It would be very pleasant for you, Jack, to meet 
your father," said Mrs. Benjamin. 

"But how strange it seems, ma'am, I answered, 
"that to reach them we would sail east." 

"San Francisco is just about as far west of Green- 
wich as Shanghai is to the east of it," she said, "if 
we should cross the meridian on the Pacific, steering 
eastward, we would be in west longitude." 



428 Voyage of "The Two Sisters. 



Chapter XIV. 

^^conli geat on t^^ Coa^t ot C^ma and iapan 

"We are here for another year, Mr. Stover," said 
the captain, as he came on board late in the after- 
noon, "and we will begin to take on cargo for Yoko- 
hama." 

It was the nineteenth of March, 1860. Mr. Fletcher, 
the steward and I discussed the situation at the sup- 
per table that evening. 

"Stars of the Revolution!" ejaculated the steward, 
"I don't know if I can stand it another year. If the 
mate would only go ashore, the 'Two Sisters' would 
be one of the most comfortable boats afloat for a 
man to sail in." 

"I suppose that I could, if I would, but I don't pro- 
pose to stand it much longer," said Mr. Fletcher. 

"If I do my duty," continued the steward, "I know 
the mate hasn't any right to interfere with my work, 
but there are dozens of ways in which he can make 
things pleasant or unpleasant, and he always chooses 
the latter." 

"I think that I will be in duty bound to stay by 
the ship, come what may," I remarked. 

"If it wasn't for Mrs. Benjamin," said Mr. Fletcher, 
"you would have a hard enough time of it ; but though 
the mate is after you nearly all the time, I advise you 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 429 

to stay by. While Mrs. Benjamin does not say any- 
thing to Mr. Stover about his method of discipline, 
nevertheless she exercises a silent influence over him. 
Things will not, probably, be any worse for you than 
they have been, and as you have pulled through fair- 
ly well so far, I reckon that you will win out." 

After assisting the steward with his dishes, as I 
often did evenings, when in port, I took Mrs. Ben- 
jamin a pitcher of hot water. 

"Jack," she said, "I suppose you have heard the 
news, that the 'Two Sisters'. has been chartered for 
another year." 

"Mr. Fletcher, the steward and I have just been 
talking it over, ma'am," I said. 

"I know that you are disappomted, Jack, for home 
means more to you than it does to the rest of us. As 
I have told you before, where Captain Benjamin is, 
that is my home, beside I have better health here than 
I have on Long Island. It is different with vou. Jack, 
but never mind, as I said before, a year will soon pass 
away." 

We sailed from Shanghai for Yokohama about the 
fifth of April, with a full cargo. On the morning of 
our departure a new crew came on board, but they 
were not in condition to handle the ship, consequently 
we had to be towed down the river. 

After rounding Pheasant Point it was discovered 
that a short distance ahead, the channel was block- 
aded from side to side. The warships were moored 
along the north side of the channel, while a large 
fleet of junks was anchored across it. To block a 



430 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/"" 

ship channel is contrary to the rules of all well-reg- 
ulated sea ports. We were going rapidly through 
the water, and a strong ebb tide was running. Our 
pilot asked the captain to decide quickly between 
three inevitables ; either to run the ship aground, foul 
the war vessels or cut our way through the fleet of 
junks. 

"If the tug can wedge her way through, go ahead," 
said Captain Benjamin. 

"Let go your braces, fore and aft," shouted the 
pilot, "and stand by with your axes." 

The pilot then signalled the tug to steer for the 
best opening and pull us through it, if possible. 

It was fortunate for us that our jib-boom was 
rigged in; our anchors, however, were hanging at the 
cat heads and it was a miracle that they were not 
torn away. If they had gone to the bottom we would 
have brought up in the midst of the fleet, and as 
the Chinese were infuriated, we would, no doubt, have 
had to fight for our lives. Instead, the anchors were 
thrown up on the forecastle deck. Such crashing of 
spars and timber, and such yelling, I never heard be- 
fore nor since. We carried away our lowerstunsail- 
booms forward, some of our braces, bent chain-plates, 
and got badly scratched up fore and aft. Our tow 
line was cut, but we were under such headway there 
was nothing short of the bottom, that could stop us. 

We left several wrecks in our wake, and took away 
with us a portion of the bow, foremast and all the 
gear attached to one of the junks. It was tangled 
up under our bow, and had to be cut adrift. The 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 431 

tug came alongside, and after connecting the hawser 
we proceeded and came to anchor in the Yang-tse, a 
little below the AVu-simg River, at one P. M. and re- 
paired damages. 

The following morning we got under way and 
passed out to sea. Before the pilot left us he re- 
quested the captain and officers to sign an affidavit 
to the effect that the accident of the previous day- 
could not have been avoided with safety to the "Two 
Sisters." The ship was then headed for Cape Satano, 
having a light breeze from the north. 

The captain had obtained a new chart of the Gulf 
of Yedo, Uruguay Channel, Yedo Bay and surround- 
ings. The first evening after sailing from the Yang-, 
tse, during the last dog watch, from six to eight P. 
M., he and Mr. Stover outlined the route to be fol- 
lowed through the Gulf. 

On the second evening out. Bob, who was with me 
in the starboard watch, and I had a chat together. 
He told me about his home and boyhood days in the 
great city of London; of his later experience as a 
sailor, and of his adventures as a soldier in a Chinese 
army, operating against the rebels above Shanghai, 
near the head of the Wu-sung River. This adventure 
was most interesting and thrilling. He enlisted in 
the Imperial army for three years at a good salary, 
as Europeans were in great demand on both sides. 
The insurgent leaders were endeavoring to gather 
up all the Europeans on the coast that they could. In 
order to counteract and prevent this, the Government 



432 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

offered even better inducements than the rebels of- 
fered. As it was considered a little more honorable 
and safer to be on the side of the Government, Bob 
decided to join the Imperials. 

After serving a year he concluded that he had seen 
enough of Chinese warfare, the horrors of which, in 
that day, were too awful to describe. By that time 
Bob had collected a considerable amount of gold and 
jewels, and began laying plans to quit the service. 
He, with several other Europeans, applied for a three- 
months' furlough, as they had served faithfully for 
a year. This was granted on condition that they 
leave all their treasure behind them, and if they re- 
turned and served out their full time they would then 
be discharged and could take all the jewels and gold 
they possessed and be given a safe conduct to Shang- 
hai. They refused a leave of absence on those condi- 
tions and expressed a willingness to serve out their 
time of enlistment. This decision on the part of Bob 
and four other Europeans of the same regiment 
created suspicion and they soon became aware that 
they were being watched closely. 

From that time, however, they began to plan to 
desert the camp. All of the five men were officers, 
from captain clown. Bob had charge of a squad of 
men. His rank was equal to that of second lieuten- 
ant in the British army. They began first by showing 
favors to the men under them, and in the meantime 
each one gathered out of his treasure as much gold 
and jewels as they could secure on their person, about 
eis:ht thousand dollars worth. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 433 

After planning and watching for a month, an op- 
portunity opened to them. Their division was or- 
dered to move forward and attack the enemy. It ap- 
peared that the enemy, by some means, had antici- 
pated the attack, and had immediately taken the of- 
fensive and marched against the Imperials in great 
force. During the confusion which followed. Bob and 
his four friends made a bold dash for liberty. They 
succeeded in passing outside of the guards, for the 
pickets were being called in all along the line. They 
walked leisurely in the direction of the river, and as 
they wore the uniform of the Imperial army, no one 
interfered with them. When they had reached within 
two miles of the river they halted in a field to rest a 
few minutes, and congratulated themselves that they 
had not yet been missed. Presently, however, a great 
shouting was heard in the direction of the camp, and 
they realized that they were pursued. Then they 
made all possible speed, which attracted attention on 
every side and caused suspicion, so that every one 
they met opposed their progress. The fugitives suc- 
ceeded in reaching the river, having cut their way 
through the midst of a howling mob, which by this 
time had gathered around them. The soldiers were 
in hot pursuit, but could not fire on them because of 
the multitude. 

Bob and his party fought their way to a boat which, 
fortunately for them, was near by. Before they 
reached it, one poor fellow was struck down and in- 
stantly beaten to death. The others backed their way 
into the boat, using their swords and revolvers with 



434 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

which they were very proficient, having had constant 
practice for a year. After getting afloat the mob 
threw spears and stones after them without taking 
serious effect. When the little party reached the 
middle of the river they rested, but for only a few 
moments. As soon as the soldiers came to the river 
they procured a boat and resumed the chase. 

The fugitives were handicapped ; there was only 
one oar in the boat, and they did not know how to 
handle it, as the Chinese do on the head of a small boat. 
They hastily improvised a becket for the oar, with 
which they did fairly well, but the enemy gained on 
them rapidly. It was night, and as the darkness 
settled down the fugitives took courage. They gradu- 
ally drew in to the opposite side of the river, and 
after proceeding a short distance further they pushed 
their boat as far as possible into the tully grass ; there 
they lay quietly, hoping to evade their pursuers. 
Presently the soldiers came along, following the edge 
of the grass and noticing where it had been bent 
down; they soon discovered the boat of the runaways. 
With a wild yell the guards pressed theirway onward, 
and as they could not reach Bob's boat quickly they 
poured a volley into it. But the birds had flown, 
for at the first yell Bob and his comrades quietly 
slipped into the water and pulled themselves a little 
down the river, resting there with their faces only 
out of water. The guards pushed their boat as far 
into the grass as possible and fired volleys in the di- 
rection of the shore. Feeling about with their spears 
on all sides, searching and listening for some time, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 435 

they concluded that the fugitives had either been shot 
or escaped to the shore. They then gave up the 
search and backed their boat out into the channel 
and began ascending the stream. So far as known, 
only tw^o of the deserters, Bob and an Irish chap 
known by the name of Maloney, reached the bank 
of the river. 

They rested awhile, hoping to hear from the other 
two comrades and then they searched diligently for 
them along the bank of the river, but failing to hear 
or see them. Bob and Maloney proceded, desiring to 
get as far down the river as possible before daylight. 
Maloney, with the exception of bruises, had come 
out rmscathed, but Bob had received a ball in the 
calf of his left leg and had lost considerable blood. 
After bandaging the wound, he was able to proceed. 

They arrived at Shanghai the evening of the fourth 
day after leaving camp. They lost much of their 
treasure in their running fight to the river, and while 
struggling in the water in the midst of the tully grass. 
They disposed of their gold and were glad to be rid 
of it. 

They had some valuable jewelery left which served 
them well, as they used it for bribes on their way 
down to the city. It was a terrible experience, and 
their escape was miraculous. Few men ever pass 
through such a trying ordeal. 

After reaching Americantown they found their 
way to the Sailors' Home and were taken in. On the 
next day, Bob and Maloney were arrested by the 
British authorities as deserters of the navv and were 



436 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

taken on board an English warship, where a court- 
martial was convened. 

Bob plead "not guilty" as he had never belonged 
to the navy; the court so decided and he was dis- 
charged, but poor Maloney was forced to plead "guil- 
ty" and the court established his guilt. As England 
and China were not at war with each other when 
Maloney deserted the navy, he was not condemned 
to death, although his sentence was very severe.. 

"Jack, did yer hever see a strong- man cry?" said 
Bob. "Well, hi'm tellin' ye, Maloney cried like ha 
child, the chap didn't plead 'is own case hat hall, but 
honly said, 'Sure, me Lord, it's meself 'at's to blame 
fer it all.' Jack, hi felt hawfully sory fer Maloney, 
then hi hasked the court hif hi could say ha word 
fer 'im: 'Sa on, my man,' said the Lord Justice, 'My 
Lord, han' Gentlemen,' hi began, 'Maloney han hi 
thinken to make a stake, hinlisted hin the Lnperial 
army. Hafter serving a year we 'eard that ha v^ar 
was on with China han' hold Hingland. 'Bob, this 
will never do,' says Maloney, bearing arms against 
our own country, sure I'll niver fire another shot fer 
the hathens.' From that time, my Lord and Gentle- 
men," said I, "we decided to quit has we couldn't get 
a discharge. Five days hago we made a dash for 
liberty. Five chaps hof us in the gang, we 'ad ha 'ard 
fight hof hit both hon the land hand in the river. 
Three of the chaps fell by the way han entered the 
heternal kingdom. But Maloney han hi pulled 
through with hour lives and 'ere we har before you, 
gentlemen, pleading for mercy. My Lord and Gentle- 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 437 

men, Maloney is a brave chap, han if hit be hany way 
possible, may hit please the court to forgive 'im." 

"Well, Bob, what happened then," I asked. 

"The Lord Justice then said," said Bob, " 'Gentle- 
men of the Court, in view of this man's earnest and 
effective plea for his comrade ; and the fact that has 
been substantiated that this man Maloney, the pris- 
oner, actually risked his life rather than to bear arms 
against his country, I therefore reconsider the sen- 
tence of this man, Maloney. Gentlemen of the Court, 
I recommend that the prisoner, Maloney, be par- 
doned.' " 

"Well, Jack, sure as hi'm livin'," said Bob, hevery 
one of them hofficers hagreed with the Lord Justice 
and Maloney was pardoned and sent haboard his ship 
v,'hich was in the fleet down hat Wu-sung, hand hi 
hain't seen 'im since that day." 

"You did Maloney a good turn. Bob," I said, "and 
of course he will never forget you. How did you 
chaps get hold of so much gold and jewelry?" I in- 
quired. 

"Jack, hit was this way," said Bob. "Whenever 
we drove the rebels hout hof a town or 'ad to hevacu- 
ate ourselves, the women and children flocked around 
us for protection han throwed the gold han jewelry 
hat hour feet. They knowed they would be safer 
near Europeans. We never basked for their treas- 
ure, but they was glad to give hit fer the little 'elp 
we could give 'em." 



43^ Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"When yoti shipped on the 'Two Sisters,' Bob, you 
were quite lame. , Was it the result of the wound 
that you received?" I asked. 

"Yes, Jack, that was just hit," he said, "but the 
ball wasn't hin very deep, so hi kept a washin' the 
wound han' workin' away hat hit, han' hat last hit 
backed hit's way hout. So hi'm all right now." 

Bob was of strictly temperate habits. He did not 
even us tobacco, which was remarkable for a sailor, 
consequently his blood was pure and his physical con- 
dition good. He was not a large man, but was strong 
and wiry. 

"Bob, tell me what was the most trying time of all 
your experience while in the Chinese service?" I said. 

"The most hawful experience hof all the hexpedi- 
tion," replied Bob, "was the 'alf 'our we lay hin the 
tully grass with just our mouths hout hof the water, 
hexpecting hevery second to be shot or 'arpooned 
with ha spear." 

"Well, Bob, if you did lose all your treasure, you 
have your experience left. You ought to write a 
book about it," I suggested. 

"Yes, Jack, I might hif hi honly knowed 'ow to do 
hit," answered Bob. 

It was then eight bells and as soon as the port 
watch came on deck I went below. It is needless to say 
that I dreamed about the Chinese, treasure, war, run- 
ning for my life, court-martials and such like. 

i We rounded Cape Satano the evening of the third 
day out and made Cape Idsu on the morning of the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 439 

fifth day. Cape Idsu is the southern extremity of 
the Idsu peninsula, the western boundary of the Gulf 
of Yedo. Cape Idsu cannot be mistaken for any 
other land in its vicinity, in clear weather, as it is bold 
and prominent. 

The Gulf of Yedo is connected with Yedo Bay by 
Uraga Channel and it is safe of approach from the 
south and west, the entrance to which one can not 
fail to recognize. It is bounded on the east by Awa. 
There is also a chain of volcanic islands and de- 
tached rock extending from it in a south southeast 
direction for nearly three hundred miles. 

When we reached about a mile and a-half to the 
east of Rock Island our course was northeast, quar- 
ter east, which led us within four miles northwest 
of Veries Island, from which position the center of 
the entrance to the Uraga Channel bore northeast by 
east, distance twenty-two miles. 

"Mr. Stover," said Captain Benjamin, "in thick 
weather care must be taken when approaching Cape 
Sagami, not to be drawn into Odawari Bay, as a 
strong current sets in that direction. It is easily 
avoided if Veries Island is visible, by not bringing 
that island to bear to the southward by southwest 
by south." 

While steering for the Uraga Channel, Tree Saddle 
Hill was readily recognized. It is situated on the 
south end of Sagami Peninsula and as we drew near 
to the channel the two small Plymouth rocks were 
plainly seen on its western side. We gave these 



440 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

rocks and the Elmstone Rock a wide berth in pass- 
ing, and after rounding Konotsaki at the same dis- 
tance, hauled up sharp on the wind, heading north 
northwest, which course led us between Saratoga 
Spit and some broken ground off the small, wooded 
island, Suliusima (Perry's island). 

We continued on this course until abreast Graem 
Bluff, at the south side of Mississippi Bay. From 
that position the elevated ground about Mandarin 
Bluff was recognized one mile to the northward of 
Treaty Point, showing to the seaward in brown cliffs 
wooded to the summit. I was glad that I was at 
the wheel while passing through the channel and 
heard Captain Benjamin and the mate discussing it. 

"To avoid the Mala Ledge and all other known 
dangers, when rounding from the westward," said 
the captain, "a ship must not bring the extremity 
of Susaki westward of north by west, until the east- 
ern extreme of the land bears east northeast. At 
night, soundings of forty fathoms may be considered 
as indicating close proximity to the dangers." 

We then kept off and headed northeast, using a 
careful lead, not shoaling less than seven fathoms^ 
and in rounding Treaty Point and Mandarin Bluff 
we did not approach within a mile of them. After 
rounding the Bluff we hauled up close by the wind 
and stood across the channel on the port tack. The 
wind being from the westward it was necessary for 
us to make short tacks while working into Yokohama 
Bay. North of Mandarin Bluff the depth of water 
decreased and the channel narrowed to one and one- 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 441 

half miles. The lead there, as is the case around 
nearly all the shore of Yedo Bay, gives fair warning. 

A good, stiff breeze was blowing, and the "Two 
Sisters" being in excellent trim, we worked up the 
bay in good shape, and came to anchor late in the 
afternoon. A Custom House boat came alongside, 
and after leaving an officer on board they took the 
captain on shore with them. After furling every- 
thing snug, coiling up the ropes, etc., we sent up 
cargo pennants, rove off gear, and made preparations 
for discharging the cargo. 

A little before sundown three men and myself were 
sent ashore for the captain. I ahvays enjoyed these 
shore trips ; they made a little diversion for me and 
I felt pride in having full charge of the boat. 

The next day was the Sabbath. After washing 
down and drying the decks, mopping the paint work, 
polishing the brass, etc., all hands went to breakfast. 
While the captain was taking his morning smoke on 
the quarter deck, after breakfast, I told Mrs. Benja- 
min about Bob's experience as a Chinese soldier, his 
narrow escape, his good habits, and his pleading for 
Maloney. 

"I am glad. Jack, there is one among the crew 
with whom you can converse freely," replied Mrs. 
Benjamin, "try and get him to remain by the ship. 
He will make a good chum for you." 

"He and Mr. Stover have had no trouble, so far, 
ma'am," I said, "we have had a number of good 
men, such as Wilson, Sam, Chips and others, but they 



442 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

never stay by very long." Mrs. Benjamin then gave 
me some books and tracts to distribute among the 
crew, and a Bible for each one that did not have 
any. 

After dinner Mr. Fletcher, the steward, and I took 
a stroll on shore. We indulged freely in the usual 
refreshments which were always in abundance in 
Japanese seaports, such as tea, cake, fruit and nuts. 
Mr. Fletcher drank some saki, a light wine, but did 
not care for it, saying: "It's neither wine nor 
whiskey." 

We fell in with several companies of men from the 
warships in the harbor. They were all cruising about 
peacefully and in a respectable manner. There was 
no strong drink to be had in the town. The saki, 
before mentioned, could not disturb the equilibrium 
of a man-of-war's-man. 

"Mr. Fletcher, if I should leave the 'Two Sisters' 
out here, I would locate in this place and open a 
market, and supply you sailors with meat, vegetables, 
etc.," remarked the steward. 

"Capital idea," answered the second mate, "labor 
is cheap enough here, that's certain; besides you could 
sell at your own prices; but if I quit the 'Two Sis- 
ters' on this coast, I would steer for the States. You 
know my failing, long voyag'es are my only salava- 
tion." 

"Yes," replied the steward, "and that failing is re- 
sponsible for another which manifests itself when- 
ever your enemy heaves in sight; that is, a weak 
will." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 443 

We enjoyed our visit on shore and after buying a 
few things we went aboard. 

After discharging cargo we loaded again for Shang- 
hai. Beside the usual merchandise carried before, 
we took in a large quantity of fire wood. It was 
split and sawed in stove length and tied up into 
bundles, about the size of an armful. Nothing un- 
usual happened while we were loading. Several ves- 
sels arrived and departed. There was some competi- 
tion among the warships ; their crews practicing with 
yards, sails, guns and boat racing. It afforded us 
a little change from the regular hum-drum of har- 
bor work. When we were ready for sea, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin went to Kanagawa to remain as a guest at 
the residence of the American consul until the "Two 
Sisters" returned. 

"Jack," she said, "you must take good care of the 
captain and of the ship. I shall expect a favorable 
report from you when you get back." 

"We hope to return in good shape, ma'am," I an- 
swered. 

It was like leaving home to leave Mrs. Benjamin, 
and a spell of homesickness stole over me on our first 
night at sea. We anchored at Wu-sung the evening 
of the eighteenth day ater sailing from Yokohama, 
having had light wind and calms during the passage. 

Our pilot informed us that England and France had 
declared war against China, and that hostilities had 
actually begun in earnest. A great fleet was moored 
along the edge of the channel for miles. I never 
fell in with so many warships before at one time. 



444 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

The fleet was composed of French and EngHsh line- 
of-battle ships and large frigates. They were utihzed 
chiefly as troop ships. China having no navy at that 
time, their only gunboat, "Confucius," which was en- 
gaged in the good work of searching for pirates, was 
allowed to pass up and down the river unmolested. 
All of the naval warfare was carried on by small gun- 
boats on their way to Pekin. 

The object of the Powers was to make a demon- 
stration at the capital city, which they ultimately did. 
China was compelled to sue for peace, and paid a 
large indemnity. No other port of the empire was 
invaded. Indeed, the belligerents protected all the 
open seaports of the Empire against the Imperial 
enemies, as before stated, in order to facilitate com- 
merce. 

The following day we arrived at Shanghai and 
moored near our usual berth, off Frenchtown. A 
greater activity was manifested on every hand than 
I had witnessed there before. A double gang of 
coolies was sent aboard to handle the cargo, in order 
to get the ship off to sea again as soon as possible. 

Lang-su was on hand with his sampan, newly 
painted and very neat and cozy in appearance. He 
knew about our collision with the junks on our last 
trip down the river. He told Captain Benjamin that 
there might be some trouble about it. Our charter 
party had investigated the matter; they secured an 
affidavit from the senior officer of the warships which 
were lying at Wu-sung at the time, testifying that 
the junks had been warned to clear the channel, but 



A Cabin Boy^s Story. 445 

had failed to heed the warning. The Chinese, find- 
ing that they did not have any case against ns, 
dropped the matter, and we heard nothing more of it. 

The "Two Sisters" had become by this time the best 
known European vessel on the coast. There was a 
small English brig there; she was a rakish looking 
craft and resembled a privateer. She was known as 
an opium trader. We had several sailing matches 
with her, to and from Japan ; she could outsail us 
in close work on the wind, yet we always succeeded 
in reaching port a little in advance of her. It was 
the fifth morning in port. I was rubbing up the 
brass work around the wheel. The captain was walk- 
ing' the quarterdeck and enjoying his cigar. 

"Hello, Jack," he exclaimed, "there comes a Yankee 
clipper up the river, probably it is the "Snowsquall." 
She is due here from the States; I reckon that there 
is some mail on board of that craft for us." 

Sure enough he brought some letters aboard that 
afternoon and one of them was for me from my 
brother. My mother and sisters were well ; they 
had all moved to New York City since I heard from 
them. My brother was working in a store; he ex- 
pected to meet me on board the ship when we ar- 
rived. There was also lots of other news. They 
hoped that I would be homeward bound before the 
letter reached its destination. In one corner of the 
letter my brother had drawn a full rigged ship un- 
der sail with ports and everything complete; she 
looked like one of the large frigates down the river. 



446 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

I was very glad to hear from the loved ones in my 
far-away Western home. 

All of the crew were paid off except Bob. I told 
him what Mrs. Benjamin had said and induced him 
to stay by, another trip. Our gunner also was dis- 
charged and the guns taken ashore ; we had no 
further need of their services, as the coast was be- 
ing patrolled from north to south by English and 
French gunboats in search of pirates. In the mean- 
time we had discharged and were taking in cargo 
again for Yokohama. From that time we carried 
full loads each way. 

Mr. Fletcher and the mate had had many conflicts 
since we sailed from New York, but one occurred, 
while in port that trip, more serious than ever. It 
was evident that the two men could no longer sail 
together with any degree of harmony. The captain 
could not discharge either of them, as they had 
shipped for three years or until the ship returned 
to some port of the United States. Mr. Fletcher, 
however, consented to leave, to my great sorrow. 
The captain also regretted parting with so good an 
officer as the second mate had proved to be. They 
had sailed together in the "Two Sisters" since her 
first voyage. 

On the evening of the day on which Mr. Fletcher 
was paid off, the steward, cook, Lang and I were 
lounging on the fore-hatch, spinning yarns with each 
other, when suddenly we heard a great commotion 
on the poop deck. Mr. Stover was seen running for 
the companionway and a man close behind him. We 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 447 

ail rushed aft and found Mr. Fletcher and the mate 
engaged in a hand-to-hand fight in the forward cabin. 
Mr. Stover was not slow in that kind of work, for 
he had practiced frequently with some member of the 
crew. He was no match for Mr. Fletcher, however, 
and if the Captain and steward had not interfered he 
would have been severely handled. The second mate 
then returned to the landing. 

Having become discontented he had yielded doubt- 
less to his old appetite, and being infuriated by whis- 
key, he had been prompted to come on board and 
attack the mate. 

The same evening, at nine-thiry o'clock, he again 
came aboard, but at that time was too intoxicated 
to defend himself. I noticed him, before there was 
any demonstration, and helped him down to the main 
deck as quietly as possible. It was fortunate for Mr. 
Fletcher that the mate had turned in. It was my 
anchor watch until midnight, and I was determined 
to shield my friend if I could. By talking to him 
he was restrained from going aft to look for the mate. 
I told him how sorry I was that he had left the "Two 
Sisters" and how much I should miss him, what a 
good friend he had been, and how many things he 
had taught me. I told him that the old man had 
confidence in him and could always depend on him 
in a storm. I then reminded him of the vow which 
he had made when Tom was dying. 

He remembered his promise, for he exclaimed: 
"Jack, my lad, Tom was all right, all right." Then 
he fell asleep. At midnight Bob relieved me. I told 



44^ Voyage of "^The Two Sisters." 

him to watch Mr. Fletcher, but also to keep near the 
companionway, and if the mate should come on deck 
to tell him that all was well. I then lay down be- 
side the second mate and was soon lost in slumber. 

In the morning', at four A. M., Bob called the cook, 
and Mr. Fletcher and I were aroused. "Hello, Jack, 
what are you doing here?" he said, quite like himself 
again. 

I then reminded him of the previous evening. He 
thanked me over and over again for taking care of 
him. I then told him, for the last time, how kind 
he had been to me, and how much I liked him. I 
expressed a hope that he would soon find a good 
ship, bound for the States. I gave him my mother's 
address, so that if he should land at New York he 
might call and tell her all about me. 

Lang-su then quietly got his sampan ready and 
took Mr. Fletcher ashore. It was a great relief to 
me that he was safely beyond the reach of the mate. 
It was our last meeting; we never saw each other 
again, but to this day I remember his kindness to 
me on our first night out from Sandy Hook and on 
many other occasions during the twenty months we 
were shipmates. I learned that he joined the clipper- 
ship "White Squall," and sailed for Boston. 

We spent the Fourth of July in port. The United 
States gunboat fired a National salute. A British 
and a French warship also saluted the stars and 
stripes. All the ships in port were dressed in bunt- 
ing. Some of the foreign ships flew the American 
ensign from their fore-trucks. As soon as we were 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 449 

loaded, a new crew came on board, and after getting 
our anchors we proceeded down the river and stood 
to sea on July seventh, 1860, wind southeast, raining, 
course full and by. 

Our new second mate was an American chap, hail- 
ing from Bath, Maine. He was a good fellow, but 
did not possess Mr. Fletcher's experience as an offi- 
cer. His name was Jeremiah Wicks. To my great 
disappointment I was taken out of the starboard 
watch and put into the mate's watch. The captain 
did not interfere, and I could not object, but if Mrs. 
Benjamin had been on board I think that she would 
have prevented it in her quiet way of doing things 
without friction. It is needless to say that I did 
not have any peace under these conditions. For ex- 
ample, in the starboard watch, during the night, when 
there was nothing going on, 'and not having the 
wheel, I could converse with the men, or if I chose, 
lie down under the lee of the center house and take 
a nap. Mr. Fletcher always gave me that privilege. 
Mr. Stover, however, made me walk the poop deck 
during all the spare time. He was continually growl- 
ing at me and picking out the very meanest kind of 
work for me to do, such as scraping iron work and 
scouring the paint. If one of the men was found 
teaching me anything, he would make a great fuss 
about it. Such treatment was very exasperating. 

Tom's brother, who wxnt by the name of Ericson, 
was among the crew that trip. He was a good sailor 
but dicl not possess the frank and hopeful disposition 
of his brother. Ericson verified all that Tom had 



450 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

said of himself in regard to his early training and 
education. I could not commune with him, as I had 
with Tom. Although he never passed through the 
schools, as Tom had, he could not be told or advised 
about anything. AVhile he could take his share of 
strong drink he ridiculed the idea that it would ever 
become his master, but was so intoxicated when 
brought aboard the "Two Sisters" that I venture to 
say he did not know whether he was bound for Japan 
or Liverpool, or whether his name was Ericson or 
John Johnson. He occupied the same bunk that his 
brother Tom had used, and v\'as also in the starboard 
A\'atch. 

We arrived at Yokohama, safe and sound, after a 
pleasant passage of ten days. Mr. Wicks, our new 
second mate, had not been accustomed to short trips 
and harbor work, such as handling cargo. Mr. Stover, 
consequently, had greater responsibility than usual, 
Vi'-hich made him more cross and disagreeable. Mr. 
Wicks, however, was quick to adapt himself to the 
situation, so that he and the mate pulled together 
quite well for a time. 

The following day Mrs. Benjamin came on board 
and, as usual, after being absent for a time, she was 
glad to get back again. As she came on deck, the 
captain introduced her to Mr. Wicks, to whom she 
said, "I hope to become as favorably acquainted with 
3 ou, sir, as I was with Mr. Fletcher, and to appre- 
ciate your services as I did his." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 451 

She had received her letters two weeks before ; 
they had been forwarded from Shanghai by the 
British bark, "Toronto." 

The next evening, talking over our home news. I 
told her what had occurred on the "Two Sisters" 
during her absence. 

"I shall miss Mr. Fletcher," she said, "he was with 
us a long time. The captain and I always felt safe 
when Mr. Fletcher was on deck." I told her of Tom's 
brother and of my opinion of his character. 

"Jack," she replied, "perhaps you are mistaken in 
regard to Erickson's disposition. You need not point 
him out to me, just wait and see if I can designate 
him from the rest of the crew." 

Everything went well until the evening before sail- 
ing. The day had been warm and partly cloudy. The 
ship was lying to the port anchor, in four fathoms, 
with forty fathoms of chain out. The evening was 
very quiet. It was eight P. M., when suddenly, with- 
out warning, an earthquake occurred. It was the 
first that I had experienced, and as the ship began 
to shake and roll a strange sensation came over me : 
I was much afraid. All hands rushed on deck ; the 
ship began to swing around and tug away at her 
cable. AVe payed out sixty fathoms more of chain, 
and stood by the starboard bower. 

"It's all over," shouted the captain, "if a tidal wave 
does not follow, we are all right." 

Mrs. Benjamin, after being assured that some one 
would stand in the companionway and call her if 



452 Voyage of '"The Two Sisters/"" 

anything happened, went below. The rest of us re- 
mained on deck all night, keeping watch. It was 
fortunate for us, and for the town, that no tidal wave 
followed. 

At midnight, however, the great Fujiyama mani- 
fested itself, pouring forth red hot lava and shooting 
up flames that appeared to pierce the very clouds. 
Mrs. Benjamin was called to witness the grand dis- 
l^lay, the grandeur of which I described as being 
glorious and beautiful in appearance but fearful in its 
results. 

No damage was caused by the earthquake among 
the shipping, nor in the immediate vicinity of the 
town, so far as we learned. The air was impregnated 
with sulphuric smoke, but a northerly wind drove it 
seaward. In talking about the earthquake, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin told me that scientists were not agreed as to 
their cause. 

"Jack," she said, "we know that there must be a 
cause somewhere, for the effect is manifest to all. I 
would not attempt to explain the phenomena, but it 
appears to me as though the Almighty took hold of 
certain localities and shook them, just as a father 
might chastise a disobedient child. 

I did not have the pleasure on that trip of taking 
the captain to and from the shore in the gig, as Lang 
with his sampan attended to all that kind of work. 
Lang did not like the Japanese, nor the landing; he 
was not used to a sand beach with, sometimes, a little 
surf rolling up. It was often difficult to get his boat 
off with his one oar. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 453 

"I no likee," he said, "chaffee up sampan outside, 
get too muchee water inside, I no savey." It was 
Lang's first and last trip with us. 

On the morning of the day of sailing we took in 
thirty-five horses, which had not been broken. I 
never saw horses used in Japan, in those days. They 
were stalled in the lower hold, in the vicinity of the 
fore-hatch. It is not necessary to state that there 
was a considerable amount of kicking going on dur- 
ing that passage. 

After making everything secure, we proceeded to 
sea, reaching Cape Idsu that evening, wind fair, but 
light. A¥e lost five horses during the passage, other- 
wise everything went well and we came to anchor 
at Shanghai the twenty-first of August. When we 
entered the Wu-sung River everything had a war- 
like appearance. The warships, both great and small, 
and English and French troops were in evidence on 
every hand. The horses, which we had on board, 
were for the cavalry. There were thousands of them 
being shipped from Japan at that time, for the Eng- 
lish and French armies in China. 

While in port that trip I caught sight of Lord Elgin, 
who was commander-in-chief of the British forces. He 
was being, rowed to the flagship when I saw him. We 
were moored about a cable's distance from the United 
States sloop of war "Hartford," which was in port. 
She ran up the Cross of St. George to her fore-truck 
and honored the great English soldier b}?- manning 
the yards and firing a salute. In manning the yards, 
the men stand close by the side of each other along 



454 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

the whole length of every yard, and as the "Hart- 
ford" was ship-rigged and had royal yards across, it 
required a larger number of men. For safety, life 
lines were stretched along the yards from the top- 
ping lifts into the halyards, about breast high. The 
men were all in uniform and made an imposing ap- 
pearance. 

The "Hartford" was a fine looking and powerful 
ship, and all the Americans on the coast were proud 
of her. She was the only United States vessel having 
a full band of music on board, that we had fallen in 
v.ith on the coast. 

We were lying so close to each other that it was a 
great treat for me to watch the men practicing with 
yards, sails, and guns. The gun drill I did not un- 
derstand; I noticed only that they handled them 
easily. The yards and sails, they handled more quick- 
ly than the other warships in port, yet they did not 
compare favorably with the "Germantown's" crew. 
Probably the reason for it was that the "Hartford" 
was a steam vessel, while the "Germantown" de- 
pended upon sails exclusively; the "Hartford's" crew 
did not, consequently, have as much practice with 
yards and sails. The "Hartford" furnished us with 
excellent music, morning and evening, which was 
\ery entertaining. She left port forty-eight hours 
before we sailed, bound probably up the Yang-tse to 
observe the belligerents at the seat of war. 

While we were loading, actual hostilities broke out 
between Mr. Stover and the steward. It happened 
one day at noon. The steward was hurrying to get 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 455 

ilie dinner on the table, and as he was passing aft 
With some dishes of food the mate intercepted him. 
AA'ords were exchang'ed between them ; the steward 
()ecame so enraged that war was declared at once. 
The food was scattered, dishes were broken. The cap- 
tain was absent on shore. The second mate who 
was friendly with the steward endeavored to separate 
them, but failed. There were no belaying pins, re- 
volvers nor knives in sight, and as the steward ap- 
peared to be doing well, no one else cared to inter- 
fere, so they fought on until both men decided to 
quit, the steward having a little advantage, though 
both were badly used up. 

AAdien the captain came on board the steward im- 
mediately requested to be discharged. He had sailed 
with Captain Benjamin for a number of years, and 
h':' regretted parting with him, but owing to the cir- 
cumstances, and in accordance with his request, he 
was paid off. 

The steward immediately sailed for Yokohama, 
v/here he opened a market as he had anticipated, 
jie and the captain remained close friends and had 
many business transactions with each other while we 
remained on the coast. Although not so free and 
-lOcial as Mr. Fletcher had been with me, he was 
never unkind while teaching me the work of a cabin 
l:)oy. I missed him in many w^ays. 

The cook, who had been with us for several trips, 
l^ecame dissatisfied and was discharged. I then had 
the opportunity of practicing what I had learned in 
connection with the culinary department, as I was 



456 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

obliged to do the cooking and cabin work for five 
days. Mrs. Benjamin assisted me by preparing the 
dining-table and keeping the cabins tidy. Bob also 
helped me a little evenings, so that I succeeded very 
well. Even Mr. Stover condescended to say that I 
did well. 

A new cook was sliipped who proved to be one of 
the best that I ever sailed with. He was a Chinese, 
but had had several years' experience in American 
ships, having been in Liverpool, Boston and New 
York. I was then taken out of the mate's watch 
and detailed to take charge of the cabin work, while 
the cook was to do all cooking, making bread, cake 
and pastry. I did not appreciate the change, for I 
liad much rather have continued as a sailor boy, even 
in the mate's watch, but I did not have a choice in 
the matter. Being accustomed to the work I soon 
adapted myself to .the situation. 

After loading, we received on board forty Chinese 
passengers and passed out to sea on the fifteenth of 
September, 1860, bound for Hong Kong, China. We 
took our departure from North Saddle Island. I did 
not observe the true courses steered, as I was kept 
busy with my work in the cabin, but it was probably 
near to southwest, as the northwest point of Hong 
i\ong is in latitude 22 degrees 45 minutes north, longi- 
tude, 114 degree 22 minutes east, distance from North 
Saddle Island about eight hundred and twenty-five 
miles. We made the passage in seventy-two hours, 
having all the wind that was necessary, from the 
northeast. We run down under courses, jib, fore- 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 457 

topmast and mizzenstaysail and spanker, single- 
reefed topsails, with sometimes a topgallantsail set 
over them. The Chinese passengers were quartered 
]»rtween decks and did their cooking over a charcoal 
lire. 

Two accidents occurred on our way to Hong Kong 
which are worthy of mention. The first caused the 
death of one man and an attempt to assassinate an- 
other, in which depravity, ignorance and superstition, 
t]]e result of gross heathen darkness, was clearly set 
forth. It so happened that while one of the crew 
was working aloft, he accidentally dropped a heavy 
block. He instantly shouted, "Out from under." 
There were a number of passengers loitering about 
decks, and several directly underneath him. They 
did not understand the timely warning, consequentl)'' 
the falling block struck one of them on the top of 
his head causing his instant death. The Chinese be- 
came much excited. . They took it for granted that 
the death of their friend had been caused purposely. 
They clamored loudly for the life of the man aloft, 
and gathered around the lower rigging on either side 
ready to kill him when he descended. The situation 
was serious for a time, as there were thirty-nine of 
them, while we numbered only thirteen. The cap- 
tain by shrewd diplomacy, assisted by our Chinese 
cook, succeeded in pacifying them. 

They agreed to go below, leaving a committee of 
six on deck to investigate. After they had retired 
between decks, in order to keep on the safe side, we 
secured the hatchway, which infuriated them and 



458 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

they threatened to set fire to the ship. The captain 
told them that if they set the ship on fire that they 
would have to burn with her. Knowing that such 
a rash act would cause their immediate destruction, 
they desisted. Their committee shouted to them to 
be quiet, that no harm would come to them. 

The man then came down from aloft, and after be- 
ing questioned was, tempararily, locked in a state 
room. Among their committee were three intelligent 
merchants, who fully comprehended the situation and 
soon succeeded in persuading the other three. 

The cause of their friend's death was then ex- 
plained to those below. We agreed with the com- 
mittee that six others, besides themselves, should re- 
main on deck at one time. It was left to them as 
to how they should devide the time with each other. 
The committee then reported to the thirty-three that 
were below decks the result of their investigation and 
tiie agreement with the captain. This proved satis- 
factory and six of them came on deck, and with their 
committee they proceeded to bury the remains of 
their friend. 

They purchased one of our water casks, and after 
to king out one of the heads, they placed the deceased 
in the cask in a sitting posture, with a tray in front 
containing rice, chop sticks, tea, and some Chinese 
dainties. The cask was then headed up water-tight 
and carefully lowered over the ship's side. Of course, 
the contents of the cask were all disarranged as soon 
as it struck the water. The Chinese hoped that by 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 459 

setting the body of their friend adrift, it might at 
some time be cast upon the shores of the home land. 

The second accident did not prove fatal to any one, 
but it caused some fear and inconvenience among the 
passengers. A heavy sea was running on our star- 
board quarter, and through the carelessness of the 
man at the wheel, the ship broached to a couple of 
points. Before he could get her off on her course 
again, a big fellow boarded us between the main and 
mizzen-rigging which stove the gig and carried off 
the booby hatch. 

The passengers were lying with their heads as near 
under the hatchway as possible, in order to get fresh 
rir. Of course, they received the full force of water 
as it rushed between decks. They were much alarmed 
and thoroughly soaked, and imagined that the ship 
was sinking, as we took in considerable water before 
the hatchway could be covered. 

Our cook was soon on hand as he always was in an 
emergency. He told them there was not the least 
particle of danger, that the ship was making the best 
time possible and would probably land them safely 
in Hong Kong within twenty-four hours. 

The cook's explanation and hopeful words proved 
to be as oil on the troubled waters, and they at once 
proceeded to adapt themselves to the situation. The 
whole incident was quite amusing to the crew, but 
very unpleasant for the passengers. 

There were some things in connection with my 
Vvork in the cabin which I enjoyed greatly; one was 
that I could help myself to as much pie and cake as 



460 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

I wanted. Surely, any strong, healthy boy would ap- 
preciate this privilege. Another was, I had all night 
in. The cook served the coffee in the morning, so I was 
never called until six. The best of all, however, was 
that I did not have the mate to contend with, the 
captain having intimated to Mr. Stover that while I 
was doing the cabin work he would assume full con- 
trol of me. Yet there were some things about my 
position which I did not appreciate. I missed the 
excitement which accompanied the duties of a real 
sailor boy, such as my trick at the wheel, taking in 
sails and going aloft. 

rhad always enjoyed the genial companionship of 
our old gunner since our first trip on the coast, but 
I was glad that his services could be dispensed with 
at that time with comparative safety, while the coast 
was being patrolled by foreign gun-boats. The black 
flag of piracy hovering about the China Sea and In- 
dian Archipelago in those days was more dreaded by 
sailors than all other dangers combined. 

There are two entrances to the Harbor of Hong 
Kong, one from the west and the other from the 
east. We entered the harbor from the west. When 
abreast Green Island we kept the peak of Lamma 
Island, Mt. Senhouse one thousand one hundred and 
forty feet high, open to the westward of Green Island, 
south, three-quarters east, until Devil's Peak, on the 
main near Lyemun Pass, was in line with a white 
rock on the south point of Won-chu-chau, or Stone 
Cutter's Island, then a southeast by east course led 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 461 

us to the northward of Kellett's Bank and direct to 
the anchorage. 

We came to anchor about one and a half miles from 
the landing jetty. The mail steamer which left the 
river at the same time with us, did not arrive until 
four hours later. The captain was taken on shore, 
but as our bills of lading were on the steamer, noth- 
ing could be done in the way of discharging- cargo 
until after she had arrived. A lighter was sent ofif 
and the passengers disembarked with their luggage. 
AVe were very glad to get rid of them, and the man 
v/ho let the block fall from aloft felt much safer. 

Everything was different at Hong Kong; it was 
more like a European port, as it, indeed, was an Eng- 
lish colony. The harbor was large and commodious ; 
it is frequented at times by terrific typhoons, which 
prove very disastrous both to the shipping and on 
shore. 

A side-wheel steamer, constructed like one of our 
Hudson River boats, plied daily between Hong Kong 
and Canton. There were no lighters propelled by 
one oar, as at Shanghai, for about all the freight 
came from Canton, Wampoo, and the neighboring 
islands, and was brought alongside in junks. They 
were well armed, each carrying a number of big guns, 
according to their size. We did not use our gig: 
the captain was taken to and from the jetty by 
Chinese boatmen. Their boats were modeled after 
the European plan and rowed by several men. I 
never saw a boat handled with one oar in that port. 



462 Voyage of "The Two Sisters" 

Hong Kong Island is about nine miles long, north- 
west by west and southeast by east, two and a-half 
miles broad and with an area of about twenty-nine 
square miles ; it lies between Lamma Island and the 
main, from which it is separated by a narrow channel, 
a quarter of a mile wide, Lyemun Pass. 

The city of Victoria (Hong Kong) is on the north 
side of the island under the peak and facing the north- 
east; it is thus sheltered from the southwest monsoon 
and suffers from extreme heat during the summer. 
Although it has been visited by sickness from deadly 
malaria, yet it will compare favorably with many of 
the treaty ports which, under Chinese sanitary regu- 
lations, are said to be the most unhealthy in the 
world. Its excellent police, gas lighting, commercial 
regulations and other British improvements made it 
one of the best regulated colonies at that time in 
the East. Owing to the excessive heat of the city a 
site was occupied for several years as a sanitarium 
at Kow-loom on the northern shore of Victoria har- 
bor. By the treaty of Tientsin this was ceded to 
Britain, and the tract about five square miles was laid 
out for villa residences in 1864. It is essentially a free 
port, no charges or dues being' levied ; it is the head- 
quarters of the British military and naval forces in 
China. It has banking facilities and all of the appli- 
ances of a modern port. 

Mrs. Benjamin, who had been somewhat nervous 
because of the Chinese passengers, spent a week on 
shore. The visit proved to be a pleasant one and 
beneficial to her health. "Jack," she said, "it was 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 463 

real homelike on shore. It has much the appearance 
of a European town." 

On our second Sabbath in port, Mr. Wicks, Bob 
and I went ashore to take a look at the city. There 
were many bar rooms and dance-halls in the vicin- 
ity of the water front. The second mate, while not 
a slave to strong drink, as was Mr. Fletcher, headed 
that way, as he never refused to take a glass with his 
ship-mates. 

"Come in chaps, and have a smile," he said. 

"Hexcuse me, sir, hi don't drink," said Bob; "hi 
rather take ha look hat the town." 

"Come in then, let's have a cigar," persuaded the 
second mate. 

"Hi don't 'have hany likin' fer smokin' heither." 
answered Bob. 

"Well, I don't know as the drink would do us any 
good, but I must have a smoke anyhow," replied 
Mr. Wicks. He lit his pipe and we proceeded through 
some of the principal thoroughfares. There were 
many more Europeans promenading the streets in 
their Sunday attire than I had ever seen in Shanghai. 
There were some large public buildings and cozy 
residences, some of which were surrounded by lawns 
filled with frolicking children. We tarried a while 
and watched them. It was a pleasure for me, as 
I had not seen children at play in a long time. 

"Hey, Jack, wouldn't you like to get over there 
and lend them a hand?" remarked the second mate. 



464 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered ; "look ! some of them 
are older than I am, but I'm idly dreaming, for I'll 
ne'er be a child again." 

"Hit takes me back again to my boyhood days in 
merry Hold Hingland," exclaimed Bob. 

After feasting our eyes and ears with the beauti- 
ful home-like surroundings, and desiring to retain the 
impressions as long as possible, we did not visit the 
Chinese quarters but decided to return to the ship, 
which we did with pleasant memories of the now 
great city on the rocky island of Hong Kong. While 
lying at Hong Kong an American clipper ship, named 
"Challenge" or "Challenger," I have forgotten which, 
arrived in distress, and after a survey was held, was 
condemned. 

After twenty-one days in port we weighed anchor 
and set sail for Shanghai, taking our departure from 
Victoria Peak. The northeast monsoon did not blow 
as heavily as on our way down. We experienced 
a stiff breeze, however, during all the passage. We 
had a dead beat to the windward all the way up to 
the Yang-tse, from thence we laid our course to the 
Wu-sung River on the starboard tack and from that 
point proceeded to Shanghai with a free wind and 
anchored in the vicinity of our usual berth, making 
the passage in eighteen days. 

The French sailing frigate "Forte," left Hong Kong 
Roads eight hours in advance of us. We overhauled 
her off North Saddle Island and passed into the 
Yang-tse ahead of her. Mrs. Benjamin told me that 
she had heard in Shanghai that the "Forte" was the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 465 

ship which carried the remains of Napolean Bona- 
parte from St. Helena to France. Bob was the only- 
man forward who remained by the ship. It was 
thought best that I should continue with the cabin 
work. 

Sunday's ship was in port, and as he had not called 
on us, Captain Benjamin made it his business to go 
on board and inquire about him. He learned that 
Sunday had succeeded remarkably well, as we had 
anticipated. He had been promoted several times, 
first, as ordinary seaman; second, able seaman; third, 
captain of the maintop; fourth, boatswain, and was 
then serving- as first gunner. Sunday had been trans- 
ferred to a small gunboat, with headquarters at Singa- 
pore, and in connection with his other duties was 
acting as her pilot in the strait of Malacca and vicin- 
ity, where they w^ere engaged in hunting down pirates. 

The captain, telling about his visit on the flag ship, 
said: "The Admiral was very enthusiastic; he said 
that he would like me to furnish the British Navy 
with a thousand more of just such men as Sunday, 
to serve in the East. I asked the Admiral if Sunday 
had remained as pious as ever. 

"Well," said the captain, "he introduced me to the 
chaplain who told me that Sunday improved as rap- 
idly in spiritual understanding as he had in his tem- 
poral duties ; that he had become well established 
and grounded in the faith." 

After discharging and taking in cargo, and ship- 
ping a new crew we got under way, bound for Yoko- 



466 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

hama. As the tug-boat was not available, we pro- 
ceeded to work our way down the river. On reach- 
ing the middle ground, the wind being dead ahead 
and the channel not broad enough for us to tack, but 
a strong ebb tide running, we resorted to the backing 
and filling method. 

Our old friend, the frigate "Forte," was lying about 
a mile below the middle ground. For some pur- 
pose they had run out a stream anchor into the 
middle of the channel, and they were there at that 
time with her launch picking it up. As we were back- 
ing across the river, the "Two Sisters" drifted down 
broadside upon them, and they were obliged to cut 
away from their anchor which exasperated their offi- 
cer. Our pilot informed him that they did not have 
any more right to obstruct the channel than the 
Chinese, and that they would have to abide by the 
consequences. The pilot's retort did not help matters 
any, but we were soon out of reach of their words 
as they pulled back to their ship. We passed out to 
sea, that afternoon, and took our departure from 
Shaweishan Island, having- worked well to the wind- 
ward in smooth water. 

"Mr. Stover," said the captain, "the monsoon is 
blowing from north northeast, we can just about lay 
our course for Cape Satano ; if the wind backs up 
any more to the northward and does not blow too 
heavy we will check in the weather braces and set 
the topmaststunsails." 



A Cabin Boy's Story, 467 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the mate, "but I reckon 
that the wind is more likely to haul into the north- 
east where it belongs at this time of year." 

"Well, if it does/' replied the captain, "we'll keep 
her going on the port tack and stand well to the 
southward." 

Winter had now set in again on the coast and the 
nights were quite cold. We had set up our cabin 
stove and, as I took care of the fire, it meant a little 
more work for me. Mrs. Benjamin required that the 
cabin should be warm and comfortable; I also en- 
joyed it as much as any one, especially in the even- 
ings. 

Mrs. Benjamin told me that the United States 
frigate, "Niagara," was about due at Yokohama, with 
the Japanese embassy on board. "Jack," she said, 
you remember they left Yedo for the United States 
about last December. I have heard that they were 
highly entertained in America. They were the first 
dignitaries of Japan to visit Western civilization." 

"I never saw an American frigate, ma'am," I re- 
plied, "I hope that we will be over there when she 
arrives." 

After rounding Cape Satano we had a long beat to 
the windward until we reached Yedo Bay. When 
off Cape Idsu, late in the afternoon on the twenty- 
seventh day of November, we sighted a large ship 
under full sail sweeping down the gulf of Yedo. We 
soon made her out to be a steam war-vessel. She 
proved to be the "Niagara." They had landed the 
embassy at Yedo and were on their return voyage 



468 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

to the United States. They signalled us that if we 
had any mail for them, to heave to and they would 
send a boat alongside, but as we did not, both of 
us proceeded on our course. I was much disap- 
pointed in not meeting the "Niagara" in port. She 
was at that time the pride of the United States Navy. 
We arrived at Yokohama on the following day, No- 
vember twenty-eight, 1860. 

I was afterward informed that the "Niagara," with 
the Japanese embassy on board, left Panama, United 
States of Columbia, June thirtieth, 1860, and arrived 
at Yedo Bay, by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, 
November ninth. The following day the embassy dis- 
embarked and on the twenty-seventh of November 
she stood to sea, touching at Hong Kong, Singapore, 
Aden, and Cape Town, arriving at Boston, April 
twenty-fourth, 1861. 

We found that the steward who settled in Yoko- 
hama was doing a brisk trade. He furnished us with 
provisions, and Captain Benjamin did some trading 
in copper cash and other things. He did not come 
on board that trip. After discharging we took in the 
most valuable cargo that the "Two Sisters" had ever 
parried. It consisted chiefly of raw silk, said to be 
worth one million Mexican dollars. 

While in port Mr. Stover had another narrow es- 
cape. During a quarrel with one of the crew he was 
stabbed, the knife striking his breast bone and caus- 
ing a painful but not serious wound. The man re- 
quested to be taken before the American consul. In- 
stead he was kept in irons forty-eight hours and then 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 469 

released. The mate threatened to work it out of him 
on our way back to Shanghai. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, "as the climate is much 
milder at Kanagawa during the winter months than it 
is to the westward of Japan, I have decided to re- 
main over here again until the 'Two Sisters' returns." 

I enjoyed the scenery between Yokohama and 
Kanagawa very much. The transportation facilities 
were not of the best. Their vehicles have two wheels, 
like our carts at home and are without springs. They 
are pulled by one or two men. This vehicle is called 
jin-riki-sha. The name is composed of three distinct 
words: jin, man; riki, pull; and sha, carriage. A 
quick witted Yankee, visiting Japan, on learning of 
this, promptly dubbed the jin-riki-sha, "Pullman-car." 

Having finished loading we set sail from Yokohama 
for Shanghai. From thence to the Amherst Rocks 
we had a long pull to the windward of about four 
hundred miles ; our true course was west by north,, 
the wind veering between northwest and north. Af- 
ter standing well across the Yellow Sea, on the port 
tack, we were compelled to make several tacks. From 
Cape Satano the passage was very disagreeable. The 
cook and I got along nicely with our work and were 
not much exposed to the weather. We arrived at 
our regular anchorage safely and did not experience 
any casualties during the passage worthy of note. 
Our consignees were a little anxious, however, on 
account of our valuable cargo. Our nearest neigh- 
bor, while in port, was the "Hartford." Her band 
dispensed enjoyable music, mornings and evenings, 



470 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

and her crew was more active while drilling than 
before. 

On our passage from Japan, that trip, we spent 
Christmas in the vicinity of Volcano Island, it be- 
ing off our port beam at noon. The captain opened 
a barrel of bottled ale and gave a portion of it to each 
of the crew. For our dinner we had canned meats 
and fruits. All hands had a holiday, which was en- 
joyed. 

When about ready for sea again we tried to per- 
suade Lang Su to go over to Japan with us again 
and take his sampan, but he absolutely refused, say- 
ing: "No, me no likee, too muchee sand beach, too 
muchee rough water." The captain offered him more 
money as an inducement, but it was of no avail. The 
Chinese did not seem to like their Japanese neigh- 
bors. 

"Jack, we are now ready for sea again," said the 
captain, "I hope that it will be our last trip on the 
coast. We are to take five cabin passengers, which 
means more work for you ; Bob will lend a hand when- 
ever it is necessary." 

The crew and passengers then came on board and 
after towing down the river, we stood off to sea. 

"We'll make Satano to-morrow morning," said the 
captain on the afternoon of the second day out. 

"Don't know, the weather looks rather dull," re- 
plied the mate. 

"Well, we'll keep a good lookout and watch the 
barometer," answered the captain. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 471 

At four bells that evening the barometer began fall- 
ing rapidly. "Mr. Stover, a heavy storm is approach- 
ing from some direction," said the captain. 

"I wager you, sir, it's a typhoon from the north- 
east," suggested the mate, "and I reckon that we 
had better make everything snug aloft." 

"All right," answered the captain, "take in all the 
light sails and see that they are well tied up with 
extra gaskets, for we don't want any sails breaking* 
out while the storm is on. Send down the irkysail 
and royal-yards, also stunsail-booms." 

All of our passengers had made long voyages, and 
so they did not need to be waited on, but they made 
themselves very useful. One of them helped me to 
make things secure about the cabins and the others 
assisted on deck. 

The storm did not break upon us, like a hurricane, 
but came on gradually. At ten P. M. we were under 
two-reefed topsails and reefed courses, the wind was 
increasing, so we close-reefed our topsails, took in 
the courses, hauled down the jib and reduced (took 
bunnet out) mizzenstaysail, and took in the spanker. 
At midnight it was blowing fiercely and was still in- 
creasing. We then set our mizzentrysail, took in 
topsails and foretopmaststaysail and hove the ship to 
on the port tack. By noon the following day the 
storm was at its height. 

"In all of my experience," said Captain Benjamin, 
"I never saw a steady wind blow so heavily." 

"This makes the third typhoon that I have fallen 
in with, and I never have experienced a moderate one 



472 



Voyage of ""The Two Sisters. 




til 

Mi 



u 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 473 

yet. I reckon they don't happen," repHed Mr. Stover, 
"they just blow as hard as ever they can and that's 
all there is about it." 

For lack of sea-room it was impossible for us to 
escape the center of the storm. At two P. M., with- 
out any previous indication, the wind suddenly 
dropped and a dead calm prevailed. A heavy sea 
had been running, but it was now, as it were, all 
confused, the waves mounting up into peaks and 
tumbling over each other all about and over us. The 
calm lasted nearly three hours, and during this time 
the ship and rigging were subject to a much greater 
strain, than at any other time during the storm. 
Our decks were continually flooded, the sea breaking 
over us from every direction. Suddenly the wind 
burst out upon us again in great fury from the op- 
posite direction. It was a welcome relief, however, 
as the sea soon became regular and the vessel did 
not labor so heavily. We brought the ship to the 
wind on the starboard tack and got our yards braced 
around without accident. During the night it seemed 
to blow as hard as it could. At seven bells, on the 
following morning, the wind and sea began to moder- 
ate. The wind was fair, but we made sail only suffi- 
cient to steady the ship until the typhoon had passed 
well out of our course. 

"Many vessels have come to grief," said the old 
man, "by making sail too soon and running into the 
storm again." 

"I hope, sir, that Mrs. Benjamin is safe," I said. 



474 Voyage of '"The Two Sisters/' 

"Yes, Jack, I trust that she is," he answered. "These 
storms are sometimes more disastrous in port than at 
sea. We were fortunate that we did not lose our 
spars; the 'Two Sisters' behaved admirably." 

During the height of the storm it was not safe for 
me to go back and forth from cabin to galley. Bob 
was, therefore, detailed to attend to that part of my 
work. By the following day a great change had 
taken place on the face of the great deep. A few 
hours previous there were darkness, the might}' 
tempest and the raging sea, awful to contemplate, 
majestically grand to behold, terrible to experience; 
but now a great calm, quiet, restful and beautiful pro- 
found stillness far and near. The great light of day 
flooding the surrounding ocean with his warmth and 
brightness, wooing it back again as it were, into 
peaceful quietness. 

After being out twenty days we arrived at Yoko- 
hama. Everybody interested was glad when they saw 
the "Two Sisters" approaching the anchorage. They 
feared that she had been dismasted. 

"Jack," I am glad to get back among you all again," 
said Mrs. Benjamin, "although I enjoyed my visit on 
shore very much, and I am feeling very well. How 
did you get along with your work during the storm 
with so many passengers?" 

"They were all kind and considerate, ma'am, and 
helped me. On landing, as it was my fifteenth birth- 
day, each of them gave me three dollars as a present. 
I decided to spend the money for curios." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 475 

At Yokohama the typhoon did considerable dam- 
age, both on shore and among the shipping. Several 
foreign vessels were blown high upon the beach, and 
a Dutch brig foundered at her anchor; it was said 
that not a junk was left afloat on the bay. 

A full cargo was waiting for us and in order to 
have quick dispatch, an extra force of men was set 
at work discharging into lighters on either side. The 
chattering, laughing, and singing of the men, the 
rattle of purchase blocks, the clamor of lighter men 
while getting their boats in position — all made a 
change from the regular, everyday life on shipboard. 

The former steward was still doing a thriving busi- 
ness at Yokohama. The morning after our arrival 
he came on board to solicit trade and take a look at 
us. As he came on deck I was astonished to see Mr. 
Stover greet him. 

"Hello, Steward," he said, 'T am glad to see you, 
'let the dead past bury its dead.' " 

"We'll make everything right again, Mr. Stover," 
replied the steward, as they shook hands with each 
other." 

"It really seems quite like home, Jack," remarked 
the steward, "but one member of the family, Mr. 
Fletcher, is missing. The cabins look nice and tidy, 
and everything appears to be in shipshape, apple-pie 
order. By the appearance of things in the galley, I 
judge that you have a good cook." We were all 
glad to meet our old shipmate. It was the last time 
I ever saw him. 



476 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/"" 

I was allowed to go ashore on the last Saturday 
in port. I bought a small cabinet, some fancy boxes 
and other articles, also a box of tea. I met a Cus- 
tom House officer with whom I was quite well ac- 
quainted. He invited me to his house. He had two 
boys younger than I and a daughter of fifteen, of 
whom the father was very proud. Daughters were 
more appreciated in Japan than in China. The mother 
was not at home. The daughter could talk a little 
English and appeared pleased to entertain me. She 
invited me to sit down with her, Turkish fashion, 
in one of the squares on the neatly padded floor. A 
servant then brought in a small, low table and served 
tea and cake. The young lady inquired about my 
home and of the great city of New York. T an- 
swered her as far as my limited knowledge of the 
city extended and guessed at the rest. She presented 
me with a beautiful tea box. There were two boxes 
within a box. The exterior box was highly polished 
and inlaid with mother of pearl; the cover was fur- 
nished with hinges, lock and key. The interior boxes 
were also polished and were lined inside with a thin 
coating of lead and were fitted with sliding covers. 
They 'would hold a quarter of a pound of tea each. 
The father and brothers did not join this little tea 
party. 

After an agreeable visit of half an hour I departed. 
She permitted me to kiss her hand and invited me 
to come again, which I promised to do if I returned 
to Yokohama. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 477 

The following Monday Mrs. Benjamin called at 
the custom officer's home and presented his daughter 
for me with a copy of "The Illustrated Life of Christ." 
Of course, the girl did not understand the book, but 
the officer was confident that his daughter would soon 
learn its contents. Mrs. Benjamin promised to write 
to Dr. Brown, the missionary, who would come and 
tell her about the Person whose life was recorded. 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, on her return, "the 
officer's daughter is a lovely young lady. You should 
have become acquainted with her before." 

"The officer told me, ma'am," I replied, "that he 
would have taken me to his residence before, but 
whenever I came on shore at other times I was in 
company with some of the crew." I was thinking, 
however, of a lovely girl far, far away, whom I liked 
very much, but whom I never met again. During 
my absence our Heavenly Father kissed her to sleep 
and bore her away to the beautiful city above. 

After loading we took our departure, bound for 
Shanghai. This proved to be our last trip to Japan. 

"Jack, I will tell you something more about Hako- 
date or Hakodadi," said Mrs. Benjamin, one evening 
during the passage. "I was told, while at Kanagawa, 
that Hakodadi, on the north side of Tsugar strait, is 
situated at the northern slope of a high peninsula 
which is connected with the main land of Yeso by 
a long, sandy isthmus. It is an excellent roadstead, 
four miles broad and five miles long and for accessi- 
bility and safety is one of the finest harbors in the 
world. Its entrance is between Hakodadi Head and 



478 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

Mussel Point which bear east and west of each other, 
distance four and two-thirds miles. The harbor is 
in the southeastern arm of the bay and is completely 
sheltered. This excellent port was thrown open to 
American commerce by the treaty procured by Com- 
modore Perry, March thirty-first, 1854. 

The town lies on the southern coast of the island 
of Yeso, on the western side of the small peninsula 
which forms one side of the harbor. They tell me 
that the place is picturesque, and its position and 
general aspect resemble Gibraltar in many particu- 
lars. The town, containing one thousand houses and 
about six thousand inhabitants, stretches for three 
miles along the base of a lofty promontory, divided 
into three principal peaks of from six hundred to one 
thousand feet in height, whose barren summits are 
often covered with snow. 

"The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in commerce 
and fisheries and carry on a large trade with the in- 
terior. It is said that more than a thousand junks are 
seen occasionally at anchor in the harbor." 

We arrived at our mooring, off Frenchtown, after 
ten days. A fairly good passage for that time of 
year. In order to discharge cargo before the expira- 
tion of the second years' charter, the work was pushed 
rapidly. By the middle of March the cargo was dis- 
charged, and having fulfilled every obligation of the 
year's contract, the "Two Sisters" was released. We 
were then free to charter for any part of the world. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 479 



Chapter XV. 

EoaDinB: for il^eto fork 

For several days we were all anxious to know to 
what part of the globe we were destined to go. The 
captain decided to leave the coast of China and Japan, 
which fact caused both Mrs. Benjamin and me to re- 
joice. There were four offers available, and the cap- 
tain was undecided, for a time, which to accept. The 
offers were for San Francisco, Liverpool, Boston and 
New York. Late in the afternoon, on the twentieth 
of March, the captain came on board and relieved 
our anxiety by stating that he had chartered the 
"Two Sisters" for New York, and we were to be- 
gin, on the following day, to take in a cargo of tea. 

Mrs. Benjamin went on shore to remain until the 
ship was ready for sea, in order to gather as much 
strength as possible before beginning the long, tedious 
voyage. 

During our last visit at Yokohama she procured 
a small pug dug. We called it Nippon, after its na- 
tive island. Nippon was a cunning little thing, and 
we all became attached to it, except Mr. Stover, 
who was not slow to express to contempt for our 
little pet, saying: 'T have no use for that cur." 

"Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin, while I was assisting 
her to get ready for shore, "take good care of Nippon 
and keep him out of mischief." I knew very well 



480 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

what she really meant was that I should keep him 
out of the mate's way as much as possible, which I 
promised to do. 

Before loading with tea it is necessary for a ship 
to take in ballast. The "Two Sisters," however, was 
already ballasted, as our. cargoes to Japan had gen- 
erally been light. Therefore, we were in condition 
to take in cargo at once. Everything on board now 
took on a new aspect. The fact that we were about 
to begin loading for home filled me with fresh de- 
sires and great expectations. I was as happy as any 
boy, surrounded with similar environment, could be. 
All of my work went on smoothly. 

Four of the 'crew had remained; they and Mr. 
Wicks, who had decided to sail for the States with 
us, were kept busy overhauling rigging and sails. Mr. 
Stover had decided to remain on the coast, but agreed 
to stay by until we were ready for sea, and during 
that time he exercised all his energy and skill in 
order to leave the "Two Sisters" in the best possible 
condition. Mr. Stover was the best man to take care 
of a ship that I ever sailed with. A special gang of 
stevedores came on board, most of them picked men, 
who were engaged chiefly in stowing cargoes of tea, 
and were expert at it. First they levelled off the bal- 
last, making it perfectly smooth; they then covered 
it with thick matting. Then they measured the hold 
accurately and began work on scientific principles. 
The tea was shipped in the regulation whole, half and 
quarter boxes, wrapped in matting. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 481 

The following Sabbath proved to be a beautiful, 
bright day. A large fleet of vessels was in port and 
all of them were dressed in their holiday bunting. 
Our old friend, the "Hartford," was absent; we missed 
the entertainment which her crew and band had af- 
forded us. Other warships in the harbor furnished 
us with music. After dinner, the cook having prom- 
ised to do my afternoon's work, Mr. Wicks, Bob and 
I went on shore. 

"Chaps, let's haul up for the walled city and take a 
stroll inside the gates," said the second mate. 

"All right, sir, I'm with you. I will be glad to 
take one more cruise in that direction," I answered. 

"Hi 'ave 'ad hall the hexperience in Chinese cities 
that hi want, han' hi'm not 'ankering after no more 
hof hit. Hi'll keep hoff fer the Sailor's Home, han 'unt 
hup some hof my hold shipmates," said Bob. vSo 
he parted company with us for the afternoon. Bob 
was a little afraid of being recognized in the city as 
a deserter from the Imperial army, hence his caution. 

"Jack," said the second mate, as we were passing 
through the gate into the city, "I think we'll heave 
to and take a pilot." 

"All right, sir," I answered, "I have had some-dififi- 
culty in sailing through its narrow, crooked channels." 

We then came to, and lay under the lee of the 
inner gate, on the port tack, with the maintopsail to 
the mast and the union jack flying from the fore- 
truck. Presently an enterprising young pilot hove 
alongside. Was he a branch pilot? Yes, indeed, 
with a long list of testimonials from great admirals 



482 Voyage of '"''Ti-ie Two Sisters/'' 

and commanders of many navies of the world. We 
gave him full charge, and promised a very liberal fee 
of about thirty cents. 

Everything looked about the same as on my pre- 
vious visit, two years before. Really, there had been 
very little change in China since the days of Con- 
fucius, except that her people had come and gone, 
generation after generation. But their customs and 
surroundings had remained the same. We visited 
the principal temple. The spacious square in front of 
it was filled with devout worshippers, burning incense 
(josh papers), and prostrating themselves before their 
gods. All of them had sad countenances, expressive 
of a longing desire for something which they did not 
obtain by their worship. 

We were then escorted to the general market of 
the city, a well chosen locality for observing the 
characteristics of the people. We found there the 
same sharp competition between sellers, and the same 
eagerness among buyers, to secure good bargains, as 
in other market places. The expression on the faces 
of those whose trade was dull was like that on the 
countenances of the worshippers at the temple. When 
approached by a customer, their faces would light up 
with bright anticipation. The buyers were, as a 
whole, a cheerful and happy crowd, rather noisy, but 
otherwise orderly and courteous to each other. 

"Jack," remarked Mr. Wicks, "in buying and sell- 
ing I find that human nature is about the same in 
all parts of the world; there are shrewd sellers and 
buyers in every clime." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 483 

After cruising" about a while longer we kept off 
and steered for open sea room, arriving at the exit 
of the city in good condition. Before discharging 
our pilot he requested a written testimonial. The 
second mate complied with his request, certifying that 
Hung Chang had fulfilled his obligations as a guide, 
and signed "Commodore Perry and staff. United 
States Navy." 

"Jack, that will compare favorably with the other 
signatures," laughingly remarked the second mate. 
We then kept away for Englishtown. While pass- 
ing along the boulevard we were agreeably surprised 
to meet Mrs. Benjamin, who was in company with 
some lady friends, escorted by a British Naval offi- 
cer. Mrs. Benjamin was pleased to meet her ship- 
mates. She presented us to the company, with some 
kind words regarding our merit and faithfulness on 
shipboard. After she had made several inquiries 
concerning the "Two Sisters" we saluted and con- 
tinued on our course. 

As the sun was sinking fast beyond the town, we 
kept off for the quay. On reaching it, the shipping 
moored along the river presented itself in silent 
majesty. The sundown gun was fired, the magnifi- 
cent display of colors vanished, and as the sweet 
melodious strain of England's national anthem, "God 
Save the Queen," filled the air, I thought of the 
millions upon millions of suffering humanity behind 
us, and wondered how long before a change for the 
better would come in the vast Empire of China. 



484 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

When we reached the "Two Sisters" the second 
mate remarked, "Jack, I reckon that the next time 
we make a landing it will be in New York city." 

The thought thrilled me with glad anticipation. 

After I finished my evening's work, Mr. Stover in- 
quired about my afternoon's stroll on shore. It ap- 
peared to me that as he was so soon to leave the ship 
he was endeavoring to make friends with me and 
settle up all old scores. I told him of my experience 
in the walled city, and of meeting Mrs. Benjamin. 

"Mr. Stover, I hope you will get a good berth 
when you quit the 'Two Sisters,' I ventured to sug- 
gest. 

"There are several vessels on the coast, Jack, which 
have temporary masters, perhaps I may get charge 
of one of them," he replied. 

As Bob had returned, I slipped around forward to 
compare notes with him. " 'Ello, Jack," said Bob, as 
I hove in sight, " 'Ow did you find everything in the 
city?" 

"All right," I answered. "We never met even 
one European inside the wall." 

"Europeans hare not steering in that direction 
these days. Jack, I'm tellin' yer," said Bob. 

"How about the Sailor's Home?" I inquired, "Did 
you fall in with any old shipmates?" 

"Sure as yer born, Jack, I run afoul of Maloney. 
He was just on shore fer a lark. T't a fine time I'm 
havin', Bob,' says he, 'Come on over across the strate 
and let's have a smile.' 'None of yer drink fer this 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 485 

chap, Maloney/ I says. 'Sure an' yer right, Bob,' 
says he, 'there's no drink fer me either in yer honor's 
company. I remember the court-marital trial, Bob.' 
says he, 'sure an' it's yerself that should be studyin' 
the law.' " 

"Bob, how was Maloney getting on, on board his 
ship?" I inquired. 

"He's been raised," replied Bob, " 'as got two 
stripes on 'is harm. Hi don't just hexactly know what 
it stands fer. Captain of the forecastle or suthin' 
like that. 'E tried to hargue me hout hof goin' to 
the States han henlist hin the navy with 'im, but hi 
told 'im hi was bound fer hold Hengland. Hi stood 
by 'im Jack, down to 'is boat. 'Bob,' says Maloney, 
has we parted company, 'Hi'll never ferget hour hes- 
cape down the river together, and your hearnest 
pleadings fer me at the trial.' " 

The following week was an eventful and busy one 
on board the "Two Sisters." We finished loading 
Friday afternoon. Every foot of available space in 
the lower hold and between decks had been neatly 
packed with boxes of tea with skill unsurpassed by 
stevedores of any other port in the world. Our 
hatches were caulked, and securely battened down. 
Our Chinese cook had left, and another cook had been 
duly installed, and a steward also had been shipped. 
He and I were kept busy stowing away provisions. 
Mrs. Benjamin came on board Saturday morning. 
Everything possible for her comfort during- the voy- 
age had been procured and packed away. 



486 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

The British ship, "Vesuvius," arrived at Wu-sung 
the previous Saturday. It was known by her offi- 
cers and crew that the cargo of coal had been on 
fire for several days. They succeeded in keeping it 
smothered until the ship arrived, when it suddenly 
broke out and in a short time the vessel was totally 
destroyed. The first officer of the "Vesuvius," Mr. 
Brown, shipped with us in place of Mr. Stover. 

"Mr. Brown," said Mr. Stover, as he turned over 
to him all the ship's papers, cargo accounts, etc., "I 
am sure, sir, that the cargo was counted correctly. 
Every box was tagged with a bamboo stick, which was 
collected at the hatchway. If any box were not 
counted it would speak for itself before being stowed 
away." 

"When the cargo is counted out, it will tell the 
story and I have no doubt that it will confirm your 
account," replied Mr. Brown. "One thing is certain," 
he added, "after knocking about for two years on the 
coast, the 'Two Sisters' is in excellent condition. I 
am doubtful, sir, that I shall give as good satisfac- 
tion in that direction." 

Mr. Stover was pleased with the little compliment, 
which he well deserved. "Don't know, sir," he replied. 
"Mighty fine vessel you came out in, I reckon, every- 
thing being equal, that you can take care of a ship 
even better than I." 

At five P. M. Saturday, we were about ready for 
sea. Mr. Stover's luggage had been sent ashore and 
he was ready to leave the ship. Mrs. Benjamin came 
on deck to see him off, and in her usual pleasant 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 487 

manner gave him a few hopeful words. Thanking 
him for his services she bade him farewell. Mr. 
Stover, who had always displayed so much boldness 
and roughness in the past was much affected. 

'T have always appreciated your kindness, ma'am," 
he replied, "and I shall never forget you." 

I was the last one of whom he took leave, the 
captain being on shore. "Jack, my boy, we've had 
some rough times together and have seen some high 
seas, but now it ^is all over and past. We part as 
good friends, eh?" he said, as he shook my hand. 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered, "I shall miss you Mr. 
Stover, and that's the truth." 

After our mutual experiences, pleasant and other- 
wise, I felt, when Mr. Stover went over the ship's 
side, that a worthy shipmate had parted company with 
me. That evening I turned over to the steward all 
of my responsibility in the cabin.' According to the 
captain's promise, I was ordered to take up again the 
duties of a sailor boy. 

The next day was the Sabbath. After washing- 
decks and having breakfast, I had an opportunity to 
look about a little. The cabin work had kept me 
so busy since Mr. Newton, our former steward left 
us, that I had scarcely had time to think of myself. 
Mr. Wicks, Bob and I attended divine service on 
board the Bethel. In the afternoon some ladies and 
gentlemen, friends of the captain, came on board to 
say farewell. Among them was our townsman of 
whom I have before spoken as being interested in 
the dry dock at Shanghai. He expressed a desire 



488 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

to embark with us, but was not quite ready. He 
expected, however, to sail for home before long. 

"Well, why didn't you get ready, sir? I gave you 
fair warning," said the captain. 

"That's a fact, you did, and I thank you for it, cap- 
tain," he replied, "the old phrase, 'Circumstances 
alter cases,' is applicable in my case. You know that 
the ship, 'Kingfisher,' was in the dock at the time 
of the accident, and her back was broken, which cost 
a big pile of money, and we haven't yet quite re- 
covered from the losses, but as soon as we do, I ex- 
pect to sail for old Long Island once more." 

The following morning the pilot and crew came 
on board. After breakfast Lang Su was paid off, and 
discharged with an elaborate testimonial; he had been 
a faithful boatman and when we said good-bye, it 
was like parting with an old friend. Everything be- 
ing ready we proceeded to get under way. A flood 
tide was running, but a good, fair breeze was blow- 
ing. After getting our first anchor, we hove in the 
second cable short, then made sail, broke out the 
anchor and stood down the river under topsails, jib, 
and spanker. After getting below the shipping, we 
got our anchors on the bow and made all sail as 
quickly as possible. While passing through the fleet 
at anchor Captain Benjamin and I were kept busy 
dipping our ensign, saying, as it were, "good-bye," to 
each one. All the warships laying above Wu-sung 
also exchanged salutations with us as we passed by. 

When we reached the Yang-tse, we met a head- 
wind, a good working breeze was blowing, however. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 489 

and an ebb tide running. After working do\yn to the 
light-vessel and over the bar, we met the sloop of war, 
"Hartford," steaming in. She was under three top- 
sails, jib and spanker. 

We knew that the war clouds had gathered over 
our fair home land, that the "Star of the West" had 
been fired upon in Charleston harbor, and that our 
brothers were in deadly conflict with one another. 
We comforted ourselves, however, with the earnest 
hope that the strife would soon be over. The "Hart- 
ford" had been ordered home. It was fortunate for 
American commerce in the East that her officers and 
crew remained loyal to the stars and stripes. 

While working down the Yang-tse there were sev- 
eral ships in company with us. They were bound 
for Japan and other ports on the coast. We had 
quite an exciting race to the windward. The "Two 
Sisters" proved to be the best boat in the fleet, hav- 
ing outsailed them all. We discharged our pilot and 
took our departure from the North Saddle Island, 
standing to sea on the starboard tack, wind to the 
southward, on the twenty-third day of April, 1861. 



490 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 



Chapter XVI. 

!^ometoatti IBounti, jftom ^fiangl^ai to Sinizt 

At five that afternoon the anchors having been 
properly secured and everything made snug on deck 
and aloft, all hands were mustered aft. The captain 
then addressed the officers and men in a few words. 
He said: 

"We have a long and tedious voyage ahead of us. 
I expect every man of you to do his duty. I promise 
each of you due reward for faithful service. I trust 
that peace and harmony will prevail between officers 
and men." The men replied simultaneously, "Aye, 
aye, sir." 

Mrs. Benjamin, who was standing by, said: "Cap- 
tain, officers and men, I count myself the least of all 
the ship's company. I will endeavor to make our 
voyage together as agreeable and pleasant as pos- 
sible. I desire to be a help and comfort to you all 
in sickness or in health." All hands then gave three 
hearty cheers for the Mistress and the "Two Sis- 
ters." The officers then chose their watches after 
which the starboard watch went to supper. 

Our ship's company consisted of captain, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin, mate and second mate, carpenter, cook and 
steward, eight men before the mast, and myself; six- 
teen, all told. My friend, Bob, George and Frank, 
two American chaps, and Johnson, a Swede, were 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 



491 



chosen for the port watch. Hansen, Nelson and Carl, 
three Norwegians, and Louis, a Frenchman, were 
chosen for the starboard watch. Each officer picked 
the men out alternately, the mate having first choice. 
I was assigned to the port watch. 




The Captain's Wife. 



I was below during the last dog-watch that even- 
ing. The captain and Mr. Brown were consulting 
the charts and discussing the different routes. "I 
have decided," said the captain, "to take the route 



492 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

leading to the westward of Luzon and Mindoro, and 
pass across the strait of Mindoro, thence along the 
coast of Panay. After reaching Cape Naso we will 
make for the strait of Basilan, passing by the south- 
west extremity of Mindanao. After reaching the 
Celebes Sea by the strait of Basilan, we will stand for 
the strait of Macassar. While passing through the 
strait of Macassar we will keep to the southward 
and passing to the north of the Little Paternosteres 
make for the coast of Borneo. Then sail across the 
Java Sea and reach the Indian Ocean by the strait 
of Sunda." 

"I reckon the route which you have designated, sir, 
is the best one for us to take down through the In- 
dian Archipelago at this time of the year," replied 
the mate. "On my last voyage, sir, we quit Hong 
Kong in the fall and stood to the eastward of the 
Philippine Islands and proceeded via Pitt's Passage." 

"I have consulted the best authorities that I could 
find on the different routes," said the captain, "and 
for this season of the year all of them favor the 
route which we expect to follow. We will endeavor 
to get soundings on the Maccles-Field Bank, and if 
possible to weather Cape Calabite, the northwestern 
point of Mindoro, without tacking." 

On the third Sabbath out, the thirteenth of May, 
we had reached about two hundred miles to the south- 
ward of Hong Kong. During the last three weeks 
we had been on the starboard tack, steering full and 
by. The monsoon had been very light, and some- 
times we were becalmed. The wind having now 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 493 

favored us a little, we checked in our weather braces 
a bit, and run up the topmaststuddingsails. 'At noon 
we were heading south, making eight knots. Every- 
thing .so far had gone smoothly on board the ship. 
We had a very good crew, both fore and aft, except- 
ing the Frenchman, who was inclined to make trouble. 

Our first Sunday at sea I, distributed books, tracts, 
and Bibles and delivered a special message from Mrs. 
Benjamin. The Frenchman did not appear to appre- 
ciate them. The rest 'of the men were much pleased. 
Our carpenter was a French Canadian; he was a 
good man but in poor health. The master of the 
culinary department was a Southern darkey, a good 
cook, always good natured and quite religious. As 
he had much to do with the health of the ship's com- 
pany he was dubbed "Doctor" or "Doc." Our steward 
was somewhat of a gentleman steward. He had been 
in business in Shanghai and shipped with us for small 
wages, working his way home, as it were, instead of 
paying passage money. He was a good fellow and 
did his work well. Mr. Brown was a stern, command- 
ing ofificer but never unkind to any one, unless one 
tried to take advantage of good treatment. The 
Frenchman tried it and was brought up with a round 
turn. 

I felt a sense of freedom and a greater personal 
responsibility in Mr. Brown's watch than I had ever 
experienced under Mr. Stover. It is needless to say 
that I enjoyed my work much better. I had been 
detailed to keep the after-cabin tidy, as the steward 
was a stranger and Mrs. Benjamin being below most 



494 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/^ 

of the time, preferred me to do that work. I also 
looked after her personal needs, as usual. That af- 
ternoon I told her about each of the crew, and what 
they said about the books which she sent them. 

"Jack, I am glad that everything is going on nicely," 
she said, "perhaps the Frenchman is more appre- 
ciative than he really appears to be. Tell him that 
we are his friends. Here is an opportunity for you 
to help him." 

"Don't know about it, ma'am," I answered, 
"Frenchie is rather a hard case. I haven't got to 
know him yet." 

"Well, Jack," she continued, "I am glad that we 
have one professed Christian forward. I hope that 
the cook will live his religion and be a help to us all." 

"I heard the captain say, ma'am, that we were to 
pass near to the Philippine Islands." 

"Yes, Jack, I am reading about them, and I will 
tell you something about the principal ones as we 
pass by them. They are not of much commercial 
value to the world, at this time, but probably will 
be in the future, and it is well for us to know some- 
thing about their past and present condition." 

"If they belonged to England or the United States. 
they would soon be developed, ma'am," I suggested. 

"England may acquire them at some future date 
but they are too far away from the United States 
for it to be especially interested in them," she replied. 

At noon on the following Tuesday we were in lati- 
tude 15 degrees 50 minutes north, longitude 114 de- 



A Cabin Boy's Story, 495 

grees 5 minutes east. "We are well on the bank, 
sir," said the captain. 

"I reckon we are, but the wind is hauling more to 
the southward, sir," replied the mate. 

"That's a fact; we'll take in the topmaststunsails 
and brace up sharp, then get out the deep sea lead 
and see if we can find bottom." 

"Aye, aye, sir," answered Mr. Brown, as he pro- 
ceeded to have the orders executed. As the lead was 
taken forward the ship* was brought up into the wind. 
We got soundings at forty-five fathoms, coral rock 
bottom. 

"There are gaps on this bank with no soundings at 
one hundred fathoms : we were lucky in not striking 
one of them," said the captain. "In looking over the 
chart," he continued, "I find that the Macclesfield 
Bank was discovered by an English ship of that name 
in 1701." 

"I reckon that the sea breaking over shoal spots in 
heavy weather was the cause which led to the dis- 
covery of the Banks, sir," said the mate. 

"Land ho !" shouted a man in the foretopmast cross- 
trees, who had been sent aloft a few minutes before 
to see if anything was in sight. 

"Where away?" called out the captain. 

"Right ahead and along the lee bow, sir," came 
the answer. 

"It's the island of Luzon," said Captain Benjamin; 
"it's impossible for us to weather Cape Calabite on 
this tack, we will stand in shore and work along down 
the coast." 



496 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/' 

"No doubt, sir, we will fall in with some variable 
winds in that vicinity," said Mr. Brown. 

"Yes, that's so, the nearer in shore we get the less 
persistently will the monsoon assert itself," said the 
captain. 

It was my wheel that afternoon, from one to four 
bells, after which I was ordered to report to Mrs. 
Benjamin, who had some work for me to attend to 
in the after-cabin. "Jack," she said, "while you are 
assisting me I will help you a little by telling you 
about Luzon." ^ 

"Luzon," began Mrs. Benjamin, "is the largest and 
most important of the Las Islas Philippines. It is 
of an exceedingly irregular figure, participating in 
this character with the other volcanic islands of the 
Archipelago, such as Mindanao, Halmahura, and 
Celebes, the volcanic agency being apparently con- 
tinuous through all these, and extending northward 
toward Japan and Kamchatka. Measured along its 
greatest length it is five hundred miles in extent, but 
the great mass of the island is in the northern penin- 
sula, which is one hundred and thirty-five miles broad 
in some places. Its form has been compared to the 
bent arm, 'Brazo Dobbadoe,' and its accurate area 
is nearly double that of Ireland. It is divided by 
the Spaniards into nineteen provinces, of which that 
of Tondo, which contains the capital, Manila, is the 
most important. Most of the civilization and Euro- 
pean residents of the island are centered in its capi- 
tal, to which the Spanish policy restricts all its com- 
merce. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 497 

Of the northern and eastern coast we know very 
little and our hydrographical knowledge is also lack- 
ing. This portion of the island is scarcely subject 
to Spain, as it has no trade nor productions. For a 
large portion of the year it is a lee shore, and be- 
cause of this and the strong currents which prevail 
close to it, it is avoided by ships at all times." 

"There goes eight bells, ma'am," I said. "I am 
going forward to call on Bob this dog-watch below. 
We are going to do some mending; he is quite a tailor 
and helps me out very much." 

After several days of light winds and with an oc- 
casional favorable squall we succeeded in weathering 
Cape Calabite, the northwestern extreme of Mindoro; 
we then passed through the channel to the eastward 
of the Apo Bank. In crossing the strait of Mindoro, 
the wind being variable, we gave the coast a berth 
of about ten miles, after which we passed the islands 
of Ambolon au Ilin, at a distance of about fifteen 
miles, and stood for the coast of Panay. At four 
bells on the evening that we were passing Mindoro, 
Mrs. Benjamin gave me some information in regard 
to the island. 

"Mindoro Island," she said, "is seventy-sixmilesfrom 
north to south and its northern coast is of about the 
same length. It is an island of great natural fertility, 
its climate is very hot and the rains almost incessant. 
Twenty-five miles eastward of Cape Calabite is the 
Albra de Hog, and between them are the ruins of a 
remarkable church. It stands on a narrow plain 



498 Voyage of '''The Two Sisters/'' 

called Punta de Santonas, now deserted, but its ex- 
istence shows that the island must have once been 
populous, before the incursions of the pirates, about 
the middle of the last century. The coast of the island 
is exceedingly unhealthy and is uninhabited. Twelve 
miles eastward of the Albra de Hog is the Puerto 
Galera, only fit for boats, and thus named' because it 
was a refuge for the galleys in pursuit of the pirates. 
Mindoro is at present not very important : the rem- 
nant of its once civilized population, a miserable and 
degraded remnant, now lives in the interior, and the 
alleged unhealthfulness of its shores prevents immi- 
gration to restore its former fertility." 

In keeping along the coast of Panay, working some 
distance from that island, according to circumstances, 
we approached the island of Ouiniluban, and past the 
dry sand bank between that island and the coast of 
Panay. When I came on deck, at eight bells that 
afternoon, a heavy squall was coming up from the 
westward. It seemed as though the southwest mon- 
soon was gathering its forces to resist the southeast 
monsoon which had begun to assert itself and claimed 
the right of way. 

"Mr. Brown," said the captain, "we have reached 
Cape Naso : our true course now for the strait of 
Basilan or the southwest extreme of Mandanao is 
southeast by east, half east, distance about two hun- 
dred and seventy-five miles." 

"How do you head?" called out the mate to the 
man at the wheel. "South by east, sir." 

"Nothing to the windward?" shouted the captain. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 499 

"Nothing to the windward, sir," came back the 
answer. 

We were on the starboard tack ; the great, black 
squall clotid, bordered with a light fringe, indicating 
a strong wind was coming up on us fast. 

"We ought to make forty or fifty miles in this 
squall," said Mr. Brown. 

"I hope that we may, but the barometer is falling 
rapidly, I don't want to take too many chances," said 
the captain as he orderecL all the light sails taken in. 
After taking in the skysail, royals, upperstaysails, 
flying-jib, and mizzentopsail. Bob and I ran up the 
main-rigging. He furled the royal and I the sk3'-sail. 
On our way down we tied up the mizzentopmaststay- 
sail. The squall now burst upon us, the weather 
braces had been checked in and we were running free. 

"Stand by the gallant and topsail-halyards," 
shouted the mate. 

"Aye, aye, sir" came the answer from fore and aft. 

The captain ordered me to report to Mrs. Benja- 
min that so far all was well. 

"I am glad to see you, Jack. How is everything 
on deck?" she inquired. 

"The captain told me to say, ma'am, that all was 
well," I answered. I then told her the particulars 
about the squall, what sail we were under, etc. "We 
are making about thirteen knots. The captain said 
if the wind continued all night it would run us down 
to within one hundred and twenty miles of Min- 
danao." 



500 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"I was reading about that island, Jack, when the 
squall struck us," said Mrs. Benjamin, "if I were feel- 
ing well this afternoon I would be in the companion- 
way watching you all." 

"The captain thought of that, ma'am," I answered^ 
"when he ordered me to report to you." 

"We are doing very well, sir," said Mr. Brown, 
after the log had been thrown at six P. M. "If our 
old sails only hold out we will be lucky." 

"Don't know, they are badly worn, chafing and 
slapping about in calm weather. I hope they will 
stay by us until we reach Anjer; then we will bend 
our winter canvas," replied the captain. 

The squall continued with an abundance of rain 
until two P. M. It passed over without causing any 
damage. During that time we made about one hun- 
dred miles on our true course. After that we had 
another spell of calm weather. 

It was two days after the squall before we sighted 
the island of Mindanao. While entering the strait 
of Basilan, between the southwest extreme of Min- 
danao and Sulu Island, in about latitude 7 degrees 
30 minutes north, longitude 122 degrees 20 minutes 
east, during my watch below, Mrs. Benjamin told 
me something about Mindanao. 

"This island, Jack, is the most southern one of the 
Philippines and, next to Luzon, is the largest, but 
it is not very well known. Until a comparatively re- 
cent period the Spaniards held only the north and 
northeastern portion, leaving the great Bayora, the 
southern, and this part of the island in the hands of 



A Cabin Boy's vStory. 501 

pirates, who spread terror over the surrounding seas ; 
but some vigorous measures have been taken against 
them, and by the aid of the Spanish post, estabhshed 
at the mouth of its principal river, it is hoped that 
this bad reputation may be removed. The island is 
about two hundred seventy miles long from east 
to west, and two hundred forty-five miles, from north 
to south." 

"Sail ho !" shouted some one on deck. 

"A small steamer heading straight for us, sir," 
shouted the second mate, who had been sent aloft to 
investigate. 

Smoke from the steamer was distinctly visible from 
the deck, and her hull soon hove in full view. We 
made her out to be a gunboat flying the Spanish 
ensign. I then hurried below and reported to Mrs. 
Benjamin. "She will soon be alongside, ma'am; you 
had better come on deck and take a look at her." 

"Yes, Jack, I intend to, I am very glad the stranger 
proves to be a friend." 

The Spaniard, desiring to have some conversation 
with us, rounded up under our quarter, and came 
close aboard to the windward. We were making 
about six knots. As Mrs. Benjamin made her ap- 
pearance, the gunboat's officers saluted, raising their 
caps. After the customary salutations came several 
inquiries. "How many days out ?" "Are you all well 
on board?" "Have you fallen in with any suspicious 
looking boats or crafts of any kind ?" When we liad 
answered these questions, adding some pleasant re- 
marks, they informed us that within two months they 



502 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

had captured three vessels under the "black flag." 
They told us, however, that we would not be likely 
to fall in with any of the cut-throats in the Celebes 
or Java Seas, as the Dutch and English authorities 
had been pursuing them vigorously in those waters 
of late. After this we bade each other farewell, and 
they steamed away toward the coast of Mindanao. 

The wind being light, we were nearly two days in 
passing through the strait of Basilan, from the Sulu 
Sea into the Celebes. "If the southwest monsoon 
had failed us, Mr. Brown," said Captain Benjamin, 
"we would have entered the Celebes by one of the 
channels west of the Sulu Archipelago. The route is 
safe of navigation by night as well as by day. Ships 
are known to have passed from one sea to the oth^r 
between these islands in four hours." 

"I'm well satisfied, as it is," replied the mate, "we 
have met the southeast monsoon in the best latitude 
possible for us. There will be, probably, twenty-four 
hours of calm weather, sir, before it asserts itself." 

"There is no doubt but that the monsoon will per- 
sist and in due time claim the right of way," said 
the captain. 

"In making for the strait of Macasa we have sev- 
eral hundred miles of clear sailing ahead of us. And 
in the meantime we had better set up our standing- 
rigging, fore and aft. During the extreme hot 
weather which we are experiencing, the shrouds and 
backstays have stretched considerably." 

"This Sea of Celebes is quite a good sized pond, 
sir, and if we watch our chances between the squalls, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 503 

it will be a good plan to tauten up a bit everything 
on deck and aloft," replied Mr. Brown. 

After supper the following evening Mrs. Benjamin 
and I spent a little time together talkingabout Celebes, 
as we had been in sight of that island since we passed 
through the strait of Basilan. 

"This island of Celebes," said Mrs. Benjamin, "one 
of the most singular in the world, forms the eastern 
limit of the strait. Except in some small portions 
it has never been surveyed; on the coast not exam- 
ined there appear to be few dangers to navigation. 
The water close to us is very deep, so far as is known, 
but these observations give but little knowledge of 
its real character. Four long peninsulas, joined to- 
gether, form the island. From this cause it has few 
or no rivers worth mentioning, and because of it's 
mountainous character the fertilizing effect of these 
few streams is carried at once into the deep waters 
of the ocean. Thus, there is but little agriculture, 
and the total population of the island does not much, 
if at all, exceed a million, while if it were as fertile 
as Java it ought to have ten times as many, as the 
area of Celebes is one-half larger than Java. The 
people of Celebes are of the same race as those of 
Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, but are divided into a 
great number of tribes, possessing every variety of 
civilization, from the savage cannibal to the man of 
letters. The inhabitants of Celebes are the most skil- 
ful and adventurous native mariners and merchants 
of the archipelago. Their little vessels, of peculiar 
build, called padeneakan, and from forty to fifty tons 



504 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

burden, conduct the carrying trade from one end of 
the archipelago to the other. Their outward and 
homeward voyages being guided by the monsoons. 
Besides the trade conducted in Celebes itself, the 
people of this island are to be found as settlers in 
every part of the archipelago where there is trade 
and protection, and many vessels belonging to them 
sail from these settlements. The whole of the island 
is nominally, at least, subject to the Dutch, and it 
is divided into three provinces. Makassar is a free 
port; it was declared so by an ordinance from the 
Dutch governor-general. This was a most note- 
worthy fact, as it had a great effect on the com- 
merce of the adjacent countries. Subsequently, to the 
enfranchisement of Makassar, two places on the 
northeast end of Celebes, Manado on the north side 
and Kema on the opposite side, were declared free 
ports on September 28, 1848." 

"I shall remember much of what you have told me, 
ma'am, about Celebes; I should perefer to reside in 
Makassar under the Dutch administration than at 
Manila subject to the Spanish rule," I remarked. 

The next three days we had very light winds from 
south to east, during which time we did not have 
watch and watch, all hands were on deck from eight 
A. M. until five P. M. and were kept busy setting 
up rigging. After reaching Cape Donda, the north- 
west point of Celebes, our course down the strait of 
Makassar being to the southward, we soon crossed 
the equator in longitude about 119 degrees 48 min- 
utes east. As we were to pass a little to the north 



A Cabin Boy^s Story, 505 

of the little Paternosteres and, as these isles were 
surrounded by shoals, Captain Benjamin was very- 
cautious when approaching them. 

While he and Mr. Brown were consulting fhe chart 
and discussing their position, it being my watch be- 
low, I overheard the following remarks : "I find that 
there are thirteen islands in this group and they 
lie in about the middle of the strait," said the cap- 
tain. "They are surrounded by banks of sand and 
coral, above and under water, scattered over a space 
of seventy miles," 

"On which side of the Pulolaut Island have you 
decided to pass, sir?" inquired the mate. 

"Pulolaut forms the southwest side of Macassas 
Strait, it is about fifty-six miles long from northeast 
to southwest, with a reef of breakers extending from 
its south point," said the captain. "Of course, there 
is a strait between the island and the southeast part 
of Borneo, but some part of it is dangerous of navi- 
gation, so I think we had better leave Pulolaut on 
the starboard hand in passing." After reaching Cape 
Salatan, the southern point of Borneo, we stood to 
the westward to cross the Java Sea for the strait of 
Sunda, 

A very pleasant surprise awaited us, especially 
Captain and Mrs, Benjamin and myself. As the rest 
of the crewknewnothing of the history of our outward 
voyage, the incident appeared very romantic to them, 
nevertheless it was real to us. It was four bells in 
the afternoon on our forty-sixth day out; we were 
two hundred and forty miles from the strait, and the 



5o6 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/'' 

weather was clear. We were on the port tack, under 
full sail, making from two to three knots ; only a 
light air was stirring from the south and the sur- 
rounding sea was smooth and restful as a mill pond. 

'T think I can discern smoke rising from the horizon 
on our lee bow, sir," said Mr. Brown. 

"Yes," replied the captain, after he had examined 
the object with his glass, "smoke it is, and it must 
be from a steam-vessel." A man was sent aloft to 
make out the stranger, if possible. He soon reported 
a steamship heading directly for us. 

"She's somewhat like the gunboat, our Spanish 
friend," remarked the captain, as the vessel hove in 
plain sight. 

"She's an English gunboat, sir," exclaimed the 
mate; "Look, they have just unfurled the British 
ensign." 

"That's so," answered the captain, as he ordered 
me to get out the stars and stripes, also our burgee. 

Mr. Wicks and I soon ran up our colors. There 
was just about enough wind to display "old glory" in 
full view, and our burgee could be read several miles 
distant. Mrs. Benjamin was occupying her chair on 
deck. The watch below had also turned out to greet 
the visitor. 

As the gun-boat rounded up under our quarter and 
steamed close alongside to the starboard, a boat was 
lowered and they proceeded to board us. We con- 
cluded that their captain had some private despatches 
which he wished to forward to Anjer. We noticed 
that the ofilicer in charge of the boat was a Malay. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 507 

"Is it possible that it may be Sunday!" exclaimed 
Mrs. Benjamin as she made her way to the gangway. 

"It is Sunday, as sure as we are living," replied the 
captain. 

In a few moments Sunday stood on deck before 
us, a living monument to the power of Christianity 
and civilization. He was dressed in the uniform of 
a naval officer, and he wore it gracefully, because 
he had earned the positidn by two years of patient 
study and faithful service. He first saluted Mrs. Ben- 
jamin, saying, "Hail the Mistress." 

He grasped both of her thin, white hands with his 
big brawny ones as though he might crush them, but 
he was as gentle and humble as on the night when 
he lay prostrate on our deck, pleading for his life. 
Sunday then greeted Captain Benjamin and expressed 
his heartfelt gratitude. "Captain," he said, "do you 
remember, sir, that the morning after my rescue from 
the savages, I became fearful and afraid to trust you 
all and leaped into the sea and struck out for free- 
dom, and how you sent a boat's crew after me and 
brought me back?" He then added, "I might have 
reached the land, sir, but I would have remained an 
uncivilized heathen to this day." 

After assuring Mrs. Benjamin that he was still 
trusting in Jehovah, he encircled me with his strong- 
arms and kissed me, saying: "Boy Jack, you al- 
ways said kind words to Sunday from the first day 
and told me many things. Our Father in heaven. He 
knows about it." 



5o8 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/" 

Failing to recognize any one else, the captain ex- 
plained that the old crew had left the ship long ago. 
Sunday inquired especially after Mr. Fletcher, the 
cook, Wilson, Sam, and Chips. "The cook," he said, 
"was the first man on the 'Two Sisters' to under- 
stand that I was a slave prisoner of the pirates. All 
the crew were good men," he remarked. 

After he had greeted us, Sunday handed Captain 
Benjamin a letter, with the compliments of his com- 
mander. Like the Spanish gunboat, they were search- 
ing for pirates and were" cruising around the island 
of Java at that time. He informed us that 'they 
had broken up several bands of desperadoes. On 
their first expedition from Singapore, they visited the 
island of his captivity and found that there existed 
there a conspiracy between the natives and an or- 
ganized band of pirates against the mechantmen of 
all nations, who happened to pass in that vicinity. 
He learned that the old chief, his former master, who 
boarded the "Two Sisters" on that beautiful Sabbath 
afternoon as friends, led the desperate attack on us 
that night and was killed, with about thirty of his 
followers. He stated that Malay troops were now 
stationed on some of the islands in that vicinity and 
were doing good service. 

Mrs. Benjamin assured Sunday that we had always 
had great confidence in him and that she would 
watch his future career with bright anticipation. "We 
had a fearful experience, Sunday, that night in which 
you were thrown providentially across our pathway," 
she exclaimed; "it was a great pleasure to have the 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 509 

opportunity to help you on a little, not only in this 
life but in the way of Hfe everlasting." 

After passing- a very pleasant half-hour with us, 
recalling other incidents of the past, and talking 
about his future plans, Sunday bade us farewell and 
pulled away for his ship. He carried with him a note 
for his captain, in which Captain Benjamin thanked 
the commander for his courtesy in laying by so long 
and permitting his officer ^to visit us, besides answer- 
ing some questions in regard to Sunday. Before 
losing sight of them we said "Good-bye" to each 
other for the last time by dipping our colors. Dur- 
ing the remainder of the voyage the crew never tired 
of asking me questions and hearing about Sunday. 

At four A. M., on the third day following, we were 
off Batavia. "Jack," said Mrs. Benjamin that morn- 
ing after breakfast, "we may have some company 
this afternoon, so we will make things tidy about 
the after-cabin, and in the meantime as we are pass- 
ing through the strait of Sunda, I will tell you a little 
of what I have read about our present surroundings. 

"The strait of Sunda is a singular break in the con- 
tinuity of that great chain of volcanic mountains 
which runs from northwest to southeast through 
Sumatra, and is continued eastward through Java. 
This depression in the mountain chains is not very 
much below the sea level, for the general maximum 
depth of the strait is not more than thirty to fifty 
fathoms; but this slight depression, geologically 
speaking, has produced a great contrast in the islands 



5IO Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

on either side of it. Each has a distinct class of ani- 
mal and vegetable life. Thus, the elephant and 
tapir of Sumatra do not exist in Java. The wild hog 
and rhinoceros of Sumatra are of a different species 
from those found in Java. The orang-outang is 
found in Sumatra but not in Java. The birds also 
are quite different; many varieties inhabit one island 
that are not on the other. These curious contrasts 
are also found to exist between the islands further 
to the eastward. These remarkable facts in the dis- 
tribution of life on the earth have been much dis- 
cussed by naturalists. 

"The strait derives its name from the western por- 
tion of Java, which is peopled by the Sunda nation, 
who speak a different language, and are less advanced 
in civilization than the rest of the Javanese. There 
are numerous islands in it which separate the strait 
into several channels, of which that along the Java 
coast is the most used." 

About eight bells that afternoon we came to anchor 
at Anjer, the twelfth of June, fifty days out from 
Shanghai. 

"Furl everything up snug, Mr. Brown, I think that 
we will lie here for the night," ordered Captain Ben- 
jamin. 

Several Dutch officers came aboard, and reported 
that the United States ship, "Hartford," passed to 
the westward on the first of June. They also re- 
ported that Fort Sumter in Charlestown Harbor had 
surrendered to the Southern Confederacy and that 
the southern coast of the United States was lined 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 511 

with Confederate privateers. Captain Benjamin ac- 
companied the officers on shore to report, and to or- 
der fresh provisions and water. Mrs. Benjamin did 
not venture to land, because the landing was a little 
difficult, on account of surf rolling in upon the beach. 

After the sails were furled and decks cleared up, 
we disposed of all the rain-water we had on hand 
(as it was highly flavored with tar, paint and var- 
nish) to make room for fresh water from the shore. 
Several boats came alongs'ide. The crew bought of 
the natives curios, fruit, cocoanuts, two orang- 
outangs, several monkeys and birds, so that when the 
"Two Sisters" left the straits we had quite a 
menagerie on board. 

The captain sent on a supply of water, buffalo meat, 
several sheep, some poultry, a new milch goat, a large 
quantity of yams with other vegetables, and fruits. 
By sunset all the provisions had been taken in and 
stowed away. The captain brought on board sev- 
eral presents for his wife. 

About two miles east northeast from Forth Point 
is the flag-staff at Anjer, in latitude 6 degrees 3 min- 
utes south, longitude 105 degrees 54 minutes east. 
The town is not easily seen in coming from the 
westward, being situated in a valley where the houses 
are scattered among the cocoanut trees and nearly 
obscured by them and by a spur of a chain of hills 
inland. The easternmost of these is a sharp, peaked 
hill called Anjer Peak, directly over the town. 

The anchorage at that time (June, 1861), was north 
by west from the fort, in from twelve to nineteen 



512 Voyage of ''"The Two Sisters/'' 

fathoms, soft ground. The landing was dangerous 
during the northwest monsoon because of a high surf. 
Since then the anchorage and its surroundings have 
been materialy changed by earthquake and unheaval. 
In the southeast monsoon, ships, both outward and 
homeward bound, generally call at Anjer for water 
and refreshments, unless they are content to pur- 
chase the latter from some of the numerous boats 
that are usually on the lookout for vessels passing 
through the strait. The Dutch had a harbor master, 
also a few Javanese troops stationed at Anjer, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 513 



Chapter XVII. 

jfrom ^njet to Cape of (I5ooli ^ope 

At four A. M. the following morning, all hands 
were called to get under way, and we proceeded to 
sea, taking our departure from Java Head, standing 
to the southwest, wind light from the eastward. 

"We will endeavor to find the latitude in which 
the southeast trade is the strongest, which will in- 
sure our quickest passage to the Cape," remarked Cap- 
tain Benjamin. 

"I think that we will find the most favorable winds, 
sir, somewhere between 15 degrees and 20 degrees," 
replied Mr. Brown, "perhaps we might do better, sir, 
to pass near to the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon." 

For several days after, the watch on deck was kept 
busy bending our best sails, including topgallantsails 
and topsails, reeving off some new running-rigging, 
and overhauling the studdingsail-gear. 

"It is not the hurricane season," said the captain, 
"but in making for the cape we are liable to have 
a gale at any time. My experience is, Mr. Brown, 
with all due respect to the observations of others, 
whenever it gets ready to blow in the Indian Ocean 
it blows without respect to seasons or localities." 

"All right, sir," said the mate. "I have the pre- 
ventor-braces ready to send aloft, so that when we 
get a good, stiff breeze we'll take the best possible 
advantage of it." 



514 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

After reaching the latitude of Mauritius, we stood 
for that island, intending to sight it and then pass 
to the southward and make for Bourbon. The south- 
east trade was not as strong as we had anticipated, 
but we were doing quite well, making from eight to. 
ten knots. 

"After passing the islands we will run down some 
more latitude," remarked the captain. 

Poor Chips had become discouraged, he had not 
been well during any part of the voyage, and after 
leaving Anjer he had not been able to do any work. 
"Jack," he said, so long as I could keep on deck, I 
thought maybe I might pull through, so I tried to 
heave ahead a little, but it ain't no use, Jack, the 
fight's going too strong for me." 

"We don't know about that, Chips," I replied, "we 
must try and look on the bright side of things. The 
captain and Mrs. Benjamin are studying your case; 
there are lots of chances yet for you to get well. 
Cheer up, shipmate, you remember that you told me 
there were loved ones in Quebec looking for you." 

"Yes, Jack, I remember, that's one bright spot to 
look at," he said. 

Up to that time the members of our little menagerie 
were doing well. The goat was allowed to wander 
about the main deck at will during the day, but to 
prevent its predecessor's fate, it was kept confined 
at night. I fed and milked it, as I had some experi- 
ence in that art on our voyage out. The orang- 
outangs had the liberty of the ship, but were very 
retiring, keeping their own company exclusively. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 515 

They seemed to realize that they were prisoners, 
being carried away from their home. The monkeys 
were very happy, saucy and mischievous. One of 
them, while on his way down the foretopmaststud- 
dingsail-sheet was thrown overboard. They were 
only half as large as the orang-outangs and not nearly 
as intelligent. One of the sheep had, been dressed 
for the table. Our birds were not doing well, sev- 
eral having succumbed. 

"Well, Mr. Brown, where are we at?" asked the 
captain after they had reckoned up the ship's posi- 
tion, at twelve o'clock on the twenty-ninth day out 
from Anjer. 

"I place the ship, sir, in longitude 63 degrees 20 
minutes east, and in latitude 20 degrees 40 minutes 
south," answered the mate. 

"AVe agree exactly," said the captain, after look- 
ing over his figures. The wind was east, southeast 
and rather light, and we were making only seven 
knots. 

"I think that we will change our plan, and instead 
of sighting the islands we will steer southwest by west 
in search of a stronger breeze, remarked the captain, 
as he ordered, "Keep her southwest by west and noth- 
ing to the southard." 

"Southwest by west and nothing to the southard, 
sir," answered the man at the wheel. 

"As we have over fourteen degrees south latitude 
to make before rounding the Cape, I think that you 
are right, sir, in standing to the southwest, beside, 
all the sails will draw better after everything is 



5i6 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/' 

trimmed and tautened up," replied Mr. Brown. "Star- 
board braces," he shouted. 

Chips had become very weak, not able even to 
leave his berth. I was detailed during my watch on 
deck to take care of him. Like Tom, he was very 
grateful for the attention that he received. It was 
several da5^s after changing our course that I had 
my last talk with our shipmate, who was nigh unto 
death. 

"Chips," I said, after making his berth comfortable, 
smoothing his pillow and changing his position, 
"would you like me to read for you?" 

"Yes, Jack, read from my prayer book, if you 
please," he answered. 

I had read only a few minutes when he became 
restful and fell asleep. In a quarter of an hour he 
awoke much excited, and called out in a strong voice, 
"Land ho ! land ho !" 

"Where away. Chips?" I asked. 

"Oh, I thought it was Mauritius, I must have been 
dreaming. Jack," he said, *in a whisper. Poor fel- 
low! He had anticipated seeing land once more, and 
appeared disappointed that it was only a dream. 

"We are a long distance to the south and west of 
the islands," I said, hoping to comfort him; "we will 
be around the Cape before you know it, making for 
St. Helena, and when we sight that island we will 
be so much nearer home." The word "home" startled 
him. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 517 

"Oh, my home, my poor old mother!" he exclaimed, 
"I shall never see land again, Jack, my body will 
go down into the sea," he moaned. 

He then became very restless and his mind wan- 
dered. It was eight bells, evening, the captain and 
Mrs. Benjamin came in. Mrs. Benjamin said a few 
comforting words to him and uttered a fervent prayer. 
She proved to be a ministering angel to the sick man 
and he at once became qui.et. 

We were in the midst of the Indian Ocean, stand- 
ing beside a dying Christian, and as Mrs. Benjamin 
with a gentle voice breathed out a prayer in language 
as simple as the lips of a devout, consecrated woman 
could frame, I wondered whether it would be any 
nearer heaven if we were in the greatest cathedral 
on the earth. The cook, who was a good nurse, then 
came in to relieve me. 

"Good night, Chips," I said, "I will be with you 
again after midnight." He understood, but made no 
answer. He pressed my hand, however, as I took 
his hand in mine. I then went to my room and 
turned in. 

As we continued making south latitude the south- 
east wind increased in strength. At four A. M. that 
morning the ship was under full sail including stud- 
dingsails fore and aft, making thirteen knots. We 
were heading southwest by west. When I came on 
deck I found that the carpenter had gone "the way 
of all flesh." His body had been made ready for 
burial. The cook told me that Chips left his thanks 
to all hands for their care. 



5i8 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/' 

^"'Tell Jack,' he said 'to be a good boy.'" The 
cook expressed his behef that Chips was a good Cath- 
oHc and died in "the faith of the Son of God." 

At eight bells (noon) the time set for the burial, 
the wind had increased to almost a gale. We had 
furled our skysail, royals, flying-jib, upperstaysails 
and mizzentopsail and had taken in the studdingsails. 

"Do you intend to bring the ship into the wind?" 
asked Mr. Brown, "it's blowing a good stiff breeze, 
sir." 

"That's a fact," replied the captain, "but I don't 
propose to bury the man with the ship running at 
the rate of fourteen knots. Lower away the degal- 
lantsails and clew up the mainsail," he ordered. 

Everything being now ready to bring the ship to, 
the captain shouted, "Hard down, your wheel, light 
up the head-sheets, starboard fore-braces." 

As soon as these orders were executed and the 
maintopsail laid aback, all hands assembled amid- 
ship. As soon as the ship lost headway. Captain 
Benjamin read from Chip's prayer book a selection 
which he himself had chosen, after which the; body 
was launched through the starboard port into the 
deep. 

In a few moments the following orders were given : 
"Hard up your helm, fill away the maintopsail, 
weather fore-braces, board the main-tack." The ship 
was soon driving on her course again under full 
lowersails and topgallantsails. 

At four bells that evening, the wind still increasing, 
we took in topgallantsails, single-reefed the topsails, 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 519 

put a reef in the spanker, and hauled down the main- 
topmaststaysail. The "Two Sisters" was doing- her very 
best, making fourteen knots. 

-"Jack," said Captain Benjamin, "I guess that the 
customs of^cer's daughter at Yokohama has let clean 
go of you now. The Long Island girls have a good, 
strong grip on us at last." 

"The officer's daughter is a nice, good girl, sir, but 
I like Western civilization^ the best," I answered. 

"Look out there! don't let her broach to with you," 
shouted Mr. Brown, as the "Two Sisters" took a 
broad sheer to the windward. 

"Haye, haye, sir," answered Sam, who was at the 
wheel. 

As the mate always allowed me to make myself as 
comfortable as possible while on deck at night, a 
pleasant contrast to Mr. Stover's rigid discipline, and 
the weather being cold and wet, I spent the last 
hour of that dog-watch in the galley, chatting with 
the cook. 

The cook was ever ready to hear more about Sun- 
day and our experiences with the pirates. I was 
also equally interested in the story of his former life as 
a slave in the South, of his escape from bondage, find- 
ing his way to Baltimore, and from thence to New 
York, on board of a coaster. How he joined the 
ship, "Southern Cross," and made a voyage to Cal- 
cutta and back to New York as cook's mate. 

"Yo see, Jack, I'se brought up in Massa's kitchen 
on de ole plantation, so's I knowed somethink 'bout 
cookin','' he said. 



520 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"Doc, do you ever expect to meet your wife and 
children again?" I asked. 

"Dat's jus' what I does, dat is, if de good Lord 
spares us. In de fust place, when we gits to New 
York, if de Northern folks wants colored soldiers, 
w^hy I'se de man, and when de war gits over, de 
darkies will go free, fer dat's what de white man say, 
den I goes back to ole Virginy and finds mah honey and 
de chill'en." 

"Doc, suppose that your former master sold your 
wife and children before the war began, maybe they 
are way down in Texas somewhere by this time." 

The cook sprang to his feet with clenched fists, 
being much agitated as any true husband and father 
would have been. I realized that I had, unintention- 
ally, touched a vital cord in the black man's heart, 
which vibrated through his whole being. While I 
was trying to apologize he became quiet and resumed 
his seat. 

"No, no. Jack," he said, "ole Massa he mighty good 
man, Massa neber sell 'em, no, no, he neber sell 'em." 

"But why did you run away from him if he was 
such a good master?" I asked. 

"Jack," answered the cook with a good degree of 
honest pride, "I likes to be free and my wife and 
chill'en free, too. I 'spected, Jack, to work fo' some 
money, den go to de ole Massa and buy myself and 
all de family. Massa, he sell 'em all to me cheap." 

"I suppose that your master tried to hunt you 
down with bloodhounds," I remarked. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 521 

"No, no, Jack," he answered with apparent satis- 
faction and respect for his former master, "ole Massa 
wouldn't neber set dogs arter his niggers, no, sah." 

"There goes eight bells ; good night, cook, I'm glad 
it's my eight hours in." 

"We have reached 20 degrees east longitude and 34 
degrees ten minutes south latitude, and will soon be 
off the Cape, Mr. Brown, and it is just noon of the 
forty-sixth day out from Anjer," said Captain Ben- 
jamin. 

"We have had a splendid run for the last ten days, 
sir," answered the mate, "but no doubt we'll have a 
change in the weather soon, as the wind is dying 
out, gradually. Do you intend to make the land, sir?" 

"We will keep inshore, if possible, in order to es- 
cape the adverse current," replied the captain. 

At noon, two days later, we were off the Cape 
in a dead calm. There was every appearance of a 
storm approaching, the weather was thickening and 
the barometer falling rapidly. At two P. M. a breeze 
sprang up from west southwest. We stood in shore 
under full sail. 

"There isn't the least doubt in my mind, Mr, Brown, 
but that we are about to experience a heavy gale 
from the northwest," said the captain. "If we can 
possibly avoid it, we must not get over fifty or sev- 
enty-five miles off shore, at the most, for the wind 
blowing against the current makes terribly heavy seas 
in that vicinity." 



522 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

At eight bells, P. M., the wind was blowing a good, 
stiff breeze, from west northwest, weather thick. "All 
hands on deck. Tack ship," shouted the mate. 

"After we get around on the starboard tack we'll 
shorten sail, Mr. Brown," said the old man. 

"Aye, aye, sir" answered the mate. "It's going to 
blow to-night, and that's certain." 

As the wind began to increase rapidly, all the upper 
sails were taken in, including topgallantsails. While the 
other sails were being tied up, I furled the mainskysail. 
At four bells we two-reefed the topsails, reefed the 
courses and spanker, and hauled down the jib, also sent 
down the skysail and royalyards. Bob and I handled 
the skysail and mainroyal-yard. Strange to say I en- 
joyed it, nothing suited me better than to be taking in 
sail, sending down yards and such like, and the heavier the 
storm, the better I was pleased. At eight bells, evening, 
blowing fiercely, we close-reefed the topsails and took in 
the mainsail and spanker and set the mizzentrysail. 

"I think that we are snug enough for the present, Mr. 
Brown," said the old man, "we'll stand off shore until 
midnight." 

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the mate, "I reckon the wind 
will back around to the southward, and moderate by to- 
morrow noon." 

At midnight as the storm was still increasing, the sea 
running very high, we took in the foresail and foretopsail. 
After the sails were tied up snug we hove the ship to. 
By noon the following day the weather moderated, as 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 523 

Mr. Brown had predicted. At two P. M. all hands were 
called out to wear ship and make sail. 

The wind was then blowing from southwest and it was 
very cold. It was the first day of August, consequently 
the middle of winter in that latitude. By four bells that 
evening the skysail and royal yards had been sent aloft, 
and the "Two Sisters'' was under full sail heading north- 
west. We were fifty days out from Anjer. 



524 Voyage of "The Two Sisters. 



• Chapter XVIII. 

JFtom tfie Cape ot (Booti l^ope to jReto gork 

"Do you expect to sight St. Helena, sir?" inquired 
Mr. Brown. It was at noon the next day after rounding 
the Cape. 

"Yes, if we ever get there," answered the captain. "I 
would like to test our chronometer. As a rule the southeast 
trade is very light during this season of the year." 

"We have about 20 degrees of latitude and 235^ de- 
grees of longitude to make before reaching the island, sir," 
said the mate, "however, we are doing very well at pres- 
ent, making eight knots." 

We had harpooned two porpoises since leaving Anjer, 
which added to our supplies of fresh provisions, beside 
our live stock. We had still remaining six fowl, two 
sheep, and the goat. The latter was the most sagacious, 
independent, matter-of-fact animal that I ever saw. It 
seemed to know when a storm was brewing but did not 
apparently care whether it was good weather or bad. It 
took its usual walk about the main decks every day, al- 
ways keeping out of every one's way except when some 
one purposely crossed her path, then "Nanny," as we called 
her, would promptly resent the insult and assert her right 
of way. We had laid in a special supply of provender for 
her maintenance, and she, in turn, furnished Mrs. Ben- 
jamin with some very good milk. All the animals of our 
little menagerie, including the birds, had perished. One 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 525 

of the orang-outangs was lost overboard, and his mate, 
apparently, mourned itself to death. 

The monkeys were very cunning, and furnished us 
much amusement, but they had been so mischievous that 
we were relieved when the last one was gone. On one 
occasion Mrs. Benjamin discovered one of the little imps 
examining the ship's chronometer. The ticking of the 
instrument had evidently attracted the attention of the in- 
quisitive little animal and it at once proceeded to investi- 
gate. The pesky thing had just succeeded in opening the 
case when Mrs. Benjamin appeared on the scene and 
saved the valuable and necessary instrument from be- 
ing rendered useless. If the chronometer had been 
put out of use, the captain would have been obliged to 
resort to the tedious and complicated method of finding 
the longitude by lunar observations. 

On anothr occasion the cook's store room was in- 
vaded. There was a large stone jar containing eggs. Mr. 
Monkey was found sitting on the edge of the jar, picking 
out eggs and breaking them on deck. The creature did 
not eat them and was simply amusing himself. They 
would steal anything that they could carry and take it 
aloft and make faces at you. They were fond of the cook, 
who had to be very cautious while dishing up the food 
to keep their paws out of it, as they were always on the 
lookout to get something. 

Several days after rounding the Cape, Mr. Brown and 
Frenchie had a serious scrap, in which the latter got the 
worst of it. It occurred on the poop deck. Both men 
went down opposite the port main-rigging, the mate on 
top, whereupon he seized a belaying pin, and if the old 
man had not interferred just then and put an end to the 



526 Voyage of '^'The Two Sisters/^ 

conflict, Frenchie would have been badly hurt; even as 
it was he was roughly handled. Strange as it may ap- 
year, and contrary to the general rule, all the men sided 
with the mate. 

"Jack, Frenchie doesn't know when 'e's in ha good 
ship," exclaimed Bob, "hif ha chap's got good hofficiers 
han' tries to take hadvantage over 'em, 'e bought to be 
learnt better, that's my hopinion." 

"Frenchie ought to have Mr. Stover to deal with, then 
he would have some reasons for growling, eh. Bob?" I 
suggested. 

"Well, Fs thinkin' that's what 'e would," answered 
Bob. 

During the next five days nothing unusual occurred. 
The wind had been light since leaving the Cape. We had 
averaged about six knots. It was very pleasant and grow- 
ing warmer every day. We had sent down our best sails 
and bent the old ones, which were considered safe enough 
in tropical weather. I told Mrs. Benjamin of the several 
talks I had had with the crew, how that each one of them 
was pleased with the books which she had sent them, 
from time to time ; that even Frenchie realized there was 
one good person at least, on board the ship. 

Mrs. Benjamin was much interested in the cook's story 
of his former life as a slave, and his future intentions 
and purposes in regard to his family. Poor Mrs. Ben- 
jamin ! We realized that her physical strength was slip- 
ping away ; her spiritual strength, however, and her strong 
determination to do all the good she could had not abated 
in the least. 

"Jack," she said, "as we expect to pass in sight of the 
island of St. Helena, I will tell you all I know about it. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 527 

Perhaps I will be obliged to have you read for me, be- 
fore we arrive at New York." 

"I hope that it will not be necessary, ma'am," I an- 
swered. 

"I trust it will not, Jack," she replied, "but I have 
learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
The Island of St. Helena is perhaps the best known of all 
the lonely islands in the world. The greatest length of the 
island is ten and one-half miles, breadth seven miles, area 
forty-seven square miles. The population is between three 
and four thousand. It is eight hundred and fifty miles 
from the island of Ascension, the nearest land. The 
island was discovered in 1502, on St. Helena's Day, May 
22, whence its name. It afterward became a Dutch pos- 
session, ceded by Holland, about the middle of the seven- 
teenth century, to the English East India Company, and 
was made over by them to the British crown in 1833. Its 
value consisted in its being a convenient halting place on 
the homeward voyage from India, a value enhanced by 
the fact that ten years previously, the Cape of Good Hope 
had been colonized by the Dutch. On the outward voy- 
age, however, it is not available for sailing vessels, which, 
under the influence of the easterly trade winds, could reach 
it only after overshooting it far, both to west and to the 
south, and this difficulty of access peculiarly fitted it to 
be the residence of Napoleon Bonaparte, who here lin- 
gered in hopeless captivity from 181 5 to 1821. There is 
one good inlet, called James Bay, possessing a fine har- 
bor. Here is situated Jamestown, the only place of any 
note in the island. There are several plains, the largest 
of which is Longwood, where stands the house in which 
Napoleon lived." 



528 Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters/" 

"It appears sad to me, ma'am, that such a great man 
should have been compelled to linger and die on this lone- 
ly island in the midst of the sea," I intimated. 

"Whether Napoleon Bonaparte was a great man or 
otherwise, Jack, I am not prepared to say," replied M,*rs. 
Benjamin, "It is certain, however, that he was a great 
military genius, a mighty man of war. All the nations 
of Europe were afraid of him, and even after he had been 
banished to St. Helena, feared that by some miraculous 
power he might escape and suddenly appear in some part 
of France at the head of a powerful army." 

During the afternoon of the tenth day from the Cape 
we passed about twenty-three miles to the westward of 
St. Helena. We did not get a good view of the island as 
a heavy cloud hung over it. According to Frenchie's 
version the island was always enveloped in a thick cloud, 
as a curse upon it. Bob declared that the Frenchman 
was dreaming. A number of stories were told of Na- 
poleon by members of the crew, that evening, during the 
last dog-watch. One of the anecdotes related, was as 
follows : 

One of the daughters of the commandant of St. Helena, 
a child of about thirteen years, named Betsy, and the 
great soldier became much attached to each other. When 

NOTE: The tomb of Napoleon is in Paris, located in the 
center of the city. It is worth a trip abroad to see it. It was 
built by popular subscription of the people of Paris in 1843, at 
a cost of over five million dollars, to hold all that is mortal 
of that great military leader. Visitors are permitted to walk in 
and look down on the stone coffin holding his ashes. It i& 
hewn out of one solid piece of porphyry, and is thirteen feet 
long by six and one-half feet wide. Above the tomb rises a 
dome three hundred and forty-four feet high. The mosaic 
pavement represents a laurel wreath, and in it are inscribed the 
names of the great battles he won. — Ziegler Magazine. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 529 

the officer was relieved and ready to depart for England, 
the child was much grieved to leave her old friend. 
Napoleon asked what he should give her for a keepsake 
to remember him. She requested a lock of his hair, where- 
upon he gave it to her, also one to each member of the 
family. It was said that Betsy was ever mindful of her 
friend on the far away, lonely island, and that when the 
news of his death reached England, there was one person 
in Great Britain who mourned for him sincerely. 

Frank, one of the American chaps, then sang a song 
in honor of the dead hero. One of the stanzas ran thus : 

" He has fought his last fight : 
He has won his last battle 
No sound can awake him to glory again.'' 

After passing St. Helena, we stood for the island of 
Ascension. The southeast trade-wind continued moder- 
ate, interspersed with an occasional squall from the east- 
ward. The watch on deck was kept busy for several days 
during this period of the voyage, scraping and painting 
the chain-plates, bobstays and anchors, also all of the iron 
work on deck and aloft. 

The night before sighting the island of Ascension, I 
had a long chat with Mr. Brown and told him about my 
home, its surroundings and our outward voyage. 

"My mother is still living, Jack," he said, "and I have 
a wife and two children; my home is in Brighton, Eng- 
land, I expect to go across as soon as we get to New 
York. If I can find a ship to suit me, well and good, if 
not, I shall take the steamer. I intended to make the round 
voyage in the ship I went out in, but, as you know, she 
was burned at Wu-sung. My ! my ! It was lucky for us 
that we made port before the fire broke out." 



530 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/^ 

"How do you like to sail in American ships, sir?" I 
asked. 

"I like American ships, all right. Jack," he said, "but 
I prefer to sail out of one of my home ports. It is better 
for my family." 

"I do hope that Mrs, Benjamin will live to get home, 
Jack," said Mr. Brown, "she is certainly one of the very 
best women I ever knew." 

The mate's remarks startled me, for, while I suspected 
that Mrs. Benjamin's health was failing, I still hoped 
that it might not be as I had feared. 

"Jack, we will run by Ascension tomorrow, if every- 
thing goes well, and as I have been looking it up today, 
I might as well tell you something about it," said Mr. 
Brown. 

"That will be first rate, sir," I exclaimed. "Mrs. Ben- 
jamin always tells me about the islands we are to pass 
by, but she had a bad turn yesterday." 

"Well, Jack," said the mate, "the island is one of the 
single islands of the globe. It is said to have received its 
name from the circumstance of its having been discov- 
ered by a Spanish navigator on Ascension Day. It is 
nearly in the middle of the South Atlantic, about eight 
miles long by six broad, its area being about thirty-six 
square miles. Though it was discovered as early as 1510, 
yet it remained uninhabited until 18 15, when, in connec- 
tion with Napoleon Bonaparte's detention in St. Helena, 
the English took possession of it. It is now Used for a 
naval station. There are only twenty to thirty souls on 
the island. From the extreme dryness of the climate, 
which, though, is healthy, the surface is almost destitute of 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 531 

verdure. A few European vegetables are cultivated 
there." 

When I came on deck the following morning, Ascen- 
sion was in plain view, a little on the starboard bow. 
We passed five miles to the westward of the island. 

"The chronometer places us ten miles too far west," 
said the captain, after the exact position of the ship had 
been ascertained by the method of bearings, course and 
distance. 

"Well, sir, we made the island all right," replied Mr. 
Brown. i -i'|^ 

"Yes, but we are allowing about eight miles, you 
know," answered the old man. 

I brought Mrs. Benjamin's chair on deck and the cap- 
tain assisted her to it. "Poor, lonely, little island," she 
exclaimed. "Thou art only a tiny speck upon the sur- 
face of the great ocean, but thou art anchored. God is 
present everywhere," she added reverently. "No doubt 
the sight of this island has gladdened the hearts of many 
a starving, thirsty mariner since the Almighty anchored 
it here. Oh, there is so much real hunger and thirst in 
this life, gentlemen," said she. "I trust that all the ship's 
company in due time will gain a safe anchorage in the 
heaven of eternal rest where the inhabitants are never 
sick." 

We crossed the equator on the twenty-fifth of August, 
about noon, in longitude 23 degrees 18 minutes west, 
making the fourth time since leaving New York. We 
ran into the doldrums one degree south, after which we 
had light variable winds and calms for a number of days 
with an occasional squall. My experience with Old Nep- 
tune on our voyage out was vividly recalled, indeed, I 



532 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/"" 

rehearsed the whole affair to all hands during the dog- 
watch discourses. 

"Eh, chaps, there was three hof us on the ship hi 
went hout hin," said Bob, "they put us hall straight 
through the regulation racket." 

We fell in with the northeast trade-wind in latitude lo 
degrees 24 minutes north, longitude 28 degrees 40 min- 
utes west; meanwhile, after catching all the rain water 
we needed, all hands were kept at work setting up rigging, 
squaring seizings, painting ship outside and varnishing 
decks. 

The trade-winds proved to be from moderate to fresh, 
sometimes blowing a good, stiff breeze, veering back and 
forth from north to northeast. We were steering full and 
by, most of the time, but occasionally we were swinging 
topmaststuddingsails with the weather braces checked in 
a bit. As the captain had anticipated a strong breeze, 
we made all ready to take advantage of it by bending our 
best sails, reaving off some new running rigging and get- 
ting up our preventer braces. 

"Sail ho!" shouted the second mate, who was aloft, 
examining chafing gear. "Where away?" called out the 
old man. 

"One point on the weather bow, sir," answered Mr. 
Wicks. 

The stranger came sweeping down upon us under full 
sail, majestically. She proved to be the British ship 
"Loch Erin," twenty days out from Liverpool, bound for 
Calcutta. They were all well, and requested to be re- 
ported. In comparing our reckoning it was found that 
we differed from each other five miles in longitude, but 
as the two ships met and passed so quickly the difference 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 533 

was considered unimportant. Just before meeting the 
"Loch Erin,'' as the day was fairly pleasant, I ran below 
to assist Mrs. Benjamin on deck. 

"She is a fine looking ship, ma'am," I said, "we'll soon 
be abeam of her." 

"You must excuse me this time, Jack, I would like to 
see our English cousin very much, but the wind is too 
strong for me today. Go, Jack, and learn all you can 
about her and let me know," answered Mrs. Benjamin. 

"Well, where are we today, Mr. Brown?" asked the 
old man, after they had taken the sun at noon on the 
twentieth day from the equator. 

"I placed the ship in the latitude of Cape Henry, sir, 
longitude, 60 degrees 40 minutes west," replied the mate. 
"That's about it," said the captain. 

"1 intend to make the coast as far north as it is con- 
venient, in order to escape any of the southern privateers 
which may be cruising along in shore. I was warned at 
Anjer not to sight the land south of Cape May." 

"A load of tea would be a valuable prize for an enemy, 
if they succeeded in getting us into one of their ports," 
replied the mate. 

At the dinner table that day Mr. Wicks, the steward 
and I discussed the voyage and the prospects of soon mak- 
ing port. "It is a very good time of year to come on the 
coast, especially to the northward of Cape Hatteras," sug- 
gested the second mate. 

"Yes," answered the steward. "I reckoned on that, 
sir, before I shipped. I had a little business at Shanghai 
which was paying me fairly well, so I planned not to 
arrive here in the winter season." 



534 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

"Well, Jack, what do you say about it?" said Mr. 
Wicks. 

"I didn't have any plans about the matter, sir," I an- 
swered, "but I am glad that it has so happened that we 
are here just at the right time of the year." 

"I expect to visit my home and get to sea again and 
off the coast before winter sets in," said the second mate. 
"I intend to sail for Frisco, if I can find a ship to suit 
me." 

"But sailors are not always allowed to choose a ship 
for themselves, sir," intimated the steward. His remark 
was made with a bit of sarcasm. 

"Yes, that is too sadly true, but a sailor is master of 
the situation if he only masters himself," exclaimed Mr. 
Wicks. "I always choose the ship I am to sail in. I 
never yet allowed a 'land shark' to steal my money for 
the sake of a few drinks of whiskey, and shove me off 
to sea not knowing either the name of the ship or whither 
I was bound, with a five-dollar outfit and a 'dead horse,' 
(two or three month's advanced pay), shackled around 
my neck." 

"I am glad, Mr. Wicks," said Mrs. Benjamin, who had 
been assisted to a seat in the forward cabin, "to know 
that you are free from the awful habit of strong drink. 
We had several such men as you have mentioned on our 
way out, and a number of them while on the coast of 
China and Japan, came on board. I requested Captain 
Benjamin, before leaving New York, that as far as pos- 
sible the 'Two Sisters' might be a temperance ship, which, 
sir, explains why the men are never called aft to 'splice 
the main brace' (have a glass of rum), during bad 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 535 

weather, after reefing down. Hot coffee is always 
served instead, at such times, as you all can testify." 

"There isn't a man aboard the ship, ma'am, who 
wouldn't prefer a pot of hot coffee in a storm to a glass 
of grog," exclaimed Mr. Wicks. 

After thanking Mrs. Benjamin for her company and 
kind remarks, the second mate went on deck. I then 
assisted her to her cabin. It was the last conversation 
she ever held with us, collectively. It was a great grief 
for me to realize that the one who had been a true friend in 
so many times of need, during the last three years, was 
growing weaker and weaker every day. 

During the few days previous to falling in with a pilot, 
all the bright work on deck had been scraped and var- 
nished, and the paint work touched up with fresh paint. 
The anchors got over the bow, chains bent. The "Two 
Sisters" looked as trim as a yacht, 

"Sail ho," shouted a man from aloft. "Where away?" 
called out the mate. 

"Foiir points on the weather bow; she appears to be 
a small vessel, sir, heading for us," answered the man. 
We were running free on the port tack, the wind abeam, 
blowing fresh. 

"We are in the latitude of Cape May, too far up the 
coast for a privateer boat," said Captain Benjamin as he 
came on deck with his glasses. We soon made out the 
stranger to be a topsail schooner. 

"Just the right rig for a privateer, sir," exclaimed Mr. 
Brown. 

"Well, they'll have to do some sailing if they calculate 
on overhauling us before dark," replied the old man. 
"Keep her off a couple of points. Weather braces," he 



536 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/'' 

shouted. "We'll see if he attempts to follow us." While 
these orders were being executed, I ran below to explain 
to Mrs. Benjamin, who then kept her berth most of the 
time, fearing she might have been unduly excited. 

"Hello, Jack, is it a pilot?" she asked cheerfully as I 
entered the room. 

"The captain thinks we are a little too far off shore for 
a pilot, ma'am, it's a small vessel, though," I answered, 
probably a fruiter. We may fall in with a pilot toward 
night," I intimated. 

"I am pleased, Jack, that we are so near home." 

"Jack," she said, "there is a commotion on deck, go 
and learn what it is about, then you may come and read 
for me if you will." I hastened to obey. 

When I reached the deck I found that the stranger 
had not attempted to follow us. The captain, therefore, 
desiring to speak to him, we ran up signals, signifying our 
intention, braced sharp up and stood across his bow. Im- 
mediately, however, the suspicious-looking craft hauled 
up on the wind, tacked ship and headed in shore. 

"It is evident he is as shy of us as we were of him," 
said the captain. 

"I can't account for it, sir, except he is really a privateer 
and takes the 'Two Sisters' to be a sloop of war in dis- 
guise," replied the mate. 

"Well, we'll not fool with him any longer, if he is a 
privateer let him overhaul us if he can," exclaimed the 
old man. "Keep her off on our course, weather braces," 
he ordered. 

I had been excused from my trick at the wheel and 
standing watch and watch, and all other duties on deck 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 537 

for the last eight days, and detailed to attend to Mrs. 
Benjamin's wants whenever I was needed. As soon as 
1 had learned the condition of things on deck, therefore, 
I reported to her as requested. 

"Jack, why are we changing our course so often with 
a good, strong, fair wind?" asked Mrs. Benjamin. I 
explained the whole situation. 

"There seems to have been a great deal of undue pre- 
caution on both sides," she said, smiling. 

"Don't know, ma'am," I answered, "the stranger was 
a rakish looking craft." 

"Well, Jack, I am glad the captain is vigilant," she 
said, thoughtfully. "I have trusted him through many 
a storm; I feel quite rested now. Jack, and if you please 
you may read for me the fourteenth and seventeenth chap- 
ters of St. John's Gospel." 

While I was reading, the old man came down to get 
a cigar. "Hello, Jack, you and Mrs. Benjamin holding 
meeting, hey, that's right," he said, "I guess I'll have a 
smoke." 

"You need not be in a hurry. Captain," said Mrs. Ben- 
jamin, as the old man turned to go on deck. 

"I am on the lookout for a pilot, ma'am," he answered. 

After reading to Mrs. Benjamin, she repeated several 
of the Scripture promises. 

"Those words are very precious to me," said Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. 



538 Voyage of ""The Two Sisters/'' 

As she requested me to choose a hymn I selected a 
favorite one of hers and read as follows : 

"From every stormy wind that blows, 
From every swelling tide of woes, 
There is a calm, a sure retreat: 
'Tis found beneath the mercy seat." 

"Those lines are very comforting and appropriate, 
Jack," said IVPrs. Benjamin, "there is so much assurance, 
quietness and comfort expressed in them. Now, Jack, as 
it is quiet on deck, I will try and take a little nap." 

"I hope that we will fall in with a pilot, ma'am, by the 
time you awake. The Union Jack is already flying at 
the fore truck," I replied. 

"The prospect thrills me. Why, Jack, just think of it," 
she exclaimed, "a pilot off our own home port. Good- 
bye for the present." I went forward to the galley and 
gave the cook an order about Mrs. Benjamin's supper. 

"How does de missus do. Jack?" he inquired. 

"The mistress is sleeping at present, and trying to re- 
tain as much strength as possible in order to be able to 
get on shore tomorrow. The old man says the mistress 
likes your cooking. Doc, so you must fix up something 
nice tonight." 

"Dats jus' w'at I knows how to. Jack," he replied, "dere 
wus a young missus on de ole plantation dat wus sick long- 
time with de consumptiveness, pore honey ! All de darkies 
like her, dear, good soul, done gone ten years ago. Well, 
Jack, de young missus liked good eatin' an' I knows jes' 
w'at de sick folks wants." 

Just before sunset on the twenty-eighth day from the 
equator, the second mate went aloft with the glass to 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 539 

look for land or a pilot boat. "I judge that we are 
eighteen miles off shore and ten miles south of Absecom, 
Mr. Brown," said the old man. 

"That places us about forty-eight miles south southeast 
of Barnegat, sir," replied the mate. 

"Sail ho!" reported Mr. Wicks, "a small fore-and-aft 
rigged vessel, sir, bearing down on our weather beam." 
We were under full sail, wind south, southwest, blowing 
a stiff breeze. 

We soon made out the craft to be a pilot boat, where- 
upon we took in our studdingsails, hauled down flying jib, 
clew*ed up the mainskysail, after which we hauled the ship 
up to the westward and stood for him. Just before meet- 
ing each other we clewed up the mainsail. 

"Hard down your wheel, light up head-sheets, back the 
main-yard," shouted the captain. 

In a few minutes the pilot boat rounded up under our 
lee and launched a boat, and in another minute or two 
a New York pilot climbed up the ship's side. "Eard 
up your helm," he ordered on reaching the deck, "trim 
down head-sheets, fill away the maintopsail and board 
the main tack." 

While these orders were being executed. Captain Ben- 
jamin and the pilot exchanged salutations. "Where are 
we at, sir?" asked the old man. 

"In the latitude of Great Egg Harbor, twenty miles 
off shore, sir," answered the pilot, "keep her northwest 
by west," he ordered. 

"Northwest by west, sir," answered the man at the 
wheel. 



540 Voyage of "^"The Two Sisters/"" 

"Captain, I intend to make the land, sir, as soon as 
possible, and stand well in shore. The wind is likely to 
burst out on us from the northward at any time." 

"What's the news, pilot, how about the war?" inquired 
Mr. Brown. 

"Oh, we are killing each other off down South by the 
thousands,", he answered, "you are mighty lucky you did 
not get picked up by a privateer." He then distributed 
some New York Heralds among the officers and crew. 
I took one of the papers and hastened to communicate 
with Mrs. Benjamin. 

"We have a New York pilot, ma'am, at last. We'll be 
in by tomorrow morning, he thinks. He says the war 
is just awful. People being killed by the thousands," I 
rattled on, much excited. "I have a paper, shall I read 
all the news for you, ma'am?" 

"I am glad that we have a pilot. Jack, but the war is 
too terrible to think of, you need not read about it just 
now," replied Mrs. Benjamin, quietly. 

At eight bells, that evening, we were eighteen miles 
south of Barnegat, wind dead aft and rather light. We 
had our maintopmast, topgallant and four lower studding- 
sails set on either side with the mainsail clewed up, mak- 
ing from eight to nine knots. 

"I will anchor the 'Two Sisters' at quarantine before 
morning, captain, if nothing happens," said the pilot. 

But something did happen ; at ten P. M. all hands were 
called on deck to shorten sail, we had reached as far north 
as Barnegat, when suddenly the wind burst out from 
the north striking the "Two Sisters" flat aback. In five 
minutes it was blowing a gale; we were in great danger 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 541 

of losing some of our spars. After getting our studding- 
sails in we manned the port fore braces and starboard 
main braces and braced the yards sharp up. In the mean- 
time, as the ship was making stern way rapidly, the helm 
was cast hard to the starboard, we then hauled the spanker- 
boom hard over to the port and trimmed the headsails 
down with the port-sheets. 

While the ship was veering to the eastward we took in 
the skysail, royals and upperstaysails. As soon as we had 
filled away on the port tack, we braced the head yards 
around, and when we had gathered headway, changed the 
wheel and trimmed down the head-sheets; then we took 
in topgallantsails, mizzentopsail, hauled down flying-jib 
and maintopmaststaysail, then boarded the main tack. We 
were then standing off shore. 

At four A M., the following morning, the wind hav- 
ing moderated and veered to the eastward, we tacked 
ship, and at daylight the weather clearing up, made all 
sail and stood for the Sandy Hook lightship, distance 
about fifty miles. 

"Having a 'dry caster,' captain," said the pilot, as the 
sun made his appearance all bright and glorious, "we can 
pick up a tug off the Hook, sir, if you wish to tow up 
the bay." 

"Don't know about it. Pilot, charging war prices, I sup- 
pose," intimated the old man. 

"War prices have not struck us very heavy yet, sir," 
replied the pilot, "but, no doubt, they will e'er long; they'll 
charge from forty to fifty dollars to take us up." 

Mrs. Benjamin and I talked the situation all over that 
morning. It proved to be the last lengthy conversation 
we ever had with each other. "We will reach S?ndy 



542 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

Hook by noon, ma'am, and I think that the captain will 
then take a tug and if he does the pilot says you can land 
at the city about four o'clock this afternoon," I reported 
eagerly. "Do you expect to get on deck, ma'am, while 
we are going up the lower bay?" I asked. 

"No, Jack, the surrounding scenery is quite familiar 
to me as I have passed out and in this harbor several 
times. I think it will be better for me to keep my berth 
until after passing quarantine, then I shall make my toile; 
for the last time, perhaps, on board the 'Two Sisters.' 
Jack, we will probably never be shipmates again, you have 
been a good boy and a help to me in many, many ways. 
When I meet your mother I can tell her something about 
you which I am sure will please her." 

"I am very thankful, ma'am," I replied, "for all the 
things which you have taught me, for all your kind words 
and for the very many times that you have helped me, 
especially during Mr. Stover's administration. I'm sure 
that I shall never forget them, ma'am." 

"Well, Jack, I am glad if I have been a help to you in 
any way during the last three years. So far as our duties 
toward each other are concerned, the voyage has been a 
pleasant one," replied Mrs. Benjamin, "I will excuse you 
now, Jack, you may go on deck, only report to me oc- 
casionally how things are going on." 

I was glad to get on deck, as we were meeting and 
passing vessels every few minutes. The lightship and 
Sandy Hook were in full view. At twelve-thirty P. M., 
when about two miles and a. half west by south of the 
lightship, a tug rounded up along side. 

"Do you want a tow, captain?" shouted the skipper. 

"For how much?" called out the old man. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 543 

"I will anchor you off the Battery for fifty dollars," 
he answered. 

"Can't pay it," said Captain Benjamin, "I have very 
tight owners." 

"Who are your owners ?" asked the skipper. We then 
run up our company's flag to the main truck. 

As the crafty skipper discerned the flag he shouted, 
"Good-bye, captain," and steamed ahead. That was only 
a little bluff of his, however, for in a few minutes he 
slowed down, and as we came up alongside of him he 
offered to take hold of us for forty dollars. 

"I'll give you thirty-five dollars and furnish the haw- 
ser," replied the old man, the wind being rather light, a 
tug was much to be desired. 

"It's a big fall, captain, but I'll take it, stand by with 
your line," he shouted. As soon as we were taken in tow, 
all the sails were taken in and being in good condition, 
the w^ork of unbending then progressed as rapidly as pos- 
sible. I reported to Mrs. Benjamin all the recent events. 

"I am glad, Jack, that we have secured a tug," she 
said, "now we will soon surprise our dear ones at home." 

Just then the captain entered the after-cabin. "Mrs. 
Benjamin, we are on the home stretch at last," he said. 
"You can prepare to go ashore. We probably will land 
about four o'clock. Jack is here to help you, and if you 
need any assistance, let me know." 

"Thank you, captain," she replied, "Jack and I can 
make all the necessary preparations. In the first place, 
Jack, you can get out my trunk and valise ; we will take 
what I need for the next few days, and you may place 
them in the valise, and the rest of my things you may 
pack in the trunk. You know where all the curios are, a 



544 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/' 

part of them are for the captain's folk and the rest for 
mine. They are all labeled. If I should not come on 
board again, Captain Benjamin will look out for them." 
After I had finished packing and strapping the trunk, 
Mrs. Benjamin asked me to go on deck to see where we 
were. I was surprised to find that we had passed Fort 
Wadsworth and were rapidly nearing quarantine. I im- 
mediately reported. 

"The captain says, ma'am, that the doctor will board 
us in a short time and will probably come into the cabin 
to see you. The 'Two Sisters' looks very strange aloft," 
I said, "all of the light sails have been sent down and the 
men are now unbending the courses and topsails." 

"Jack, you may go and watch for the quarantine offi- 
cer," said she, "and as soon as he arrives let me know." 

As I went on deck the tug had just slowed down; a 
gangway ladder was placed in position, and in a few 
minutes the officer came up the ship's side. As soon as 
he and the old man had exchanged salutations, and all 
the crew accounted for, he requested to see Mrs. Ben- 
jamin. I then hastened and reported to her that the doctor 
was inquiring about her. 

"He is a very pleasant appearing gentleman, besides, 
the captain will accompany him into the cabin." 

"Then I will excuse you, Jack, for the present," she 
said. 

As the doctor was leaving the ship, I overheard him 
remark to the old man, "Captain, you are very fortunate 
in bringing your wife into port alive." 

"Is there anything that you can prescribe, doctor?" 
asked the captain. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 545 

"A change of surroundings would be beneficial to her, 
sir, for a time," he replied. As the officer shoved off and 
they pulled away, Captain Benjamin repeated in an un- 
dertone, "For a time, only for a short time," then he 
turned and went below. 

I then turned to and took a little part in the hurry and 
bustle on deck. Leather tags had been prepared, and I 
was set at work tagging sails after they had been tied up. 
Also coils of running rigging and some of the chafing 
gear. 

After passing Bedlow's Island, and when Castle Wil- 
liams on Governor's Island was on our starboard beam, 
several boarding house runners boarded us. Each of 
them had a bottle of whiskey. As they were advertising 
their respective houses, they turned to and worked with 
the men, treating them often. Bob, Johnson, Frank and 
the cook, however, would not drink, which fact offended 
the land sharks and a fight ensued. They were compelled 
to retreat to their boats, threatening dire vengeance as 
they rowed off. During the fight I was struck on the 
right shoulder with a belaying pin which one of them 
threw. The missile was aimed at Bob, I simply got in its 
way. The captain having come on deck, I was ordered 
below. I reported to Mrs. Benjamin what was going 
on and about the fight. 

"Jack, you have always been very good in keeping me 
posted of all the happenings on deck, and I am glad to 
know that some of our crew are temperance men," she 
said, "but please don't mention the disturbance any more 
for the present." 

Just then we heard the order given, "Stand by the 
starboard anchor," and in a few moments the pilot 



546 Voyage of "'The Two Sisters/' 

shouted, "Let go." As the chain rattled through the 
hawse pipes I was thrilled with jo)''ful anticipation. 

"We have heard that sound many times while in China 
and Japan, but it has a different meaning for us now," 
remarked Mrs. Benjamin. 

"Well, we have arrived at last, Mrs. Benjamin, after 
one hundred and fifty-three days at sea, and are anchored 
in the North River, close off the Battery," said the old man, 
as he came below. "I have a boat already alongside, and 
as soon as I can gather up the ship's papers, if you are 
ready, we will disembark." 

"It is the twenty-third day of September, which makes 
just three years since we sailed from New York, captain, 
and I do thank our Heavenly Father for our safe ar- 
rival," replied Mrs. Benjamin. "I am all ready, sir," she 
said, after I had adjusted her rubbers. 

"Take good care of everything. Jack, I shall be on 
board after the ship is docked," said Captain Benjamin. 
"Aye, aye, sir," I answered. 

Mrs. Benjamin then took his arm and they proceeded 
on deck. I followed with a large chair. After she was 
seated at the gangway the officers and crew gathered 
around her to say farewell. 

"We have had a long, but pleasant voyage together, 
shipmates, I thank you all for your services," she said. 

A single purchase had been sent up to the starboard 
mainyard arm; as it was being adjusted to Mrs. Benja- 
min's chair, she bade me good-bye, saying: "Captain, 
how will Jack find his mother?" These were the last 
words that I ever heard her utter. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 547 

'Til find his mother, all right," answered the old man. 
Mrs. Benjamin was then carefully hoisted over the ship's 
side and lowered into the boat. 

''You may look for a tug, Mr. Brown, the first thing 
tomorrow morning," said the captain. "Aye, aye, sir," 
replied the mate. The boat was then rowed away for 
the landing. 

The work of stowing away the sails, unreeving running 
rigging and stopping it up, sending down studdingsail- 
booms and chafing gear went on rapidly. By sundown the 
"Two Sisters" looked trim and neat as a pin. That 
evening, while seated alone on the bobby hatch, musing 
over the voyage just ended, I thought of my mother and 
of her piercing cry of anguish when she last saw me from 
the deck of the towboat off Sandy Hook, and how glad she 
would be to see her boy again. I wondered if all the 
loved ones left at home were alive and well. 

During the afternoon we saw some magnificent look- 
ing clipper ships on their way out to sea. A number of 
warships were anchored near by, lofty and majestic in 
appearance; river crafts, some of them real floating- 
palaces were continually passing to and fro. Along the 
water front of the great city at even-tide much activity 
was displayed. As I thus meditated, I heard, in fancy, 
the "Two Sisters" thus soliloquizing: 

I carried thee across the sea. 

And broug-ht thee back over the oceans, 

Yet no one praises me. 

Through hurricanes and calms, 

In safety I have brought thee, 

And now my anchor is cast, 

My sails are furled, my voyage is past, 

But nobody praises me. 



548 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 



Quickly I answered, in thought : 

Well done, gallant bark, faithful and brave. 

Thou didst carry us across the oceans, 

And brought us back over the w^ave. 

In hurricanes and calms. 

Safely thou hast brought us through, 

And now thy anchor is cast. 

Thy sails are furled, thy voyage past, 

I will praise thee, "Two Sisters," staunch and true. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 549 



Conclusion 

On the following morning after rigging in the jib-boom, 
and stopping up the headgear, a tug boat came alongside. 
The "Two Sisters" was then docked in Catherine Slip, 
just below the ferry, and the captain came on board. 

"Jack, your mother is not living in the city," he said.- 
"as near as I can learn she has removed to her home at 
Setauket. You can go up home on Saturday, and if you 
wish, you may come down again on the following Mon- 
day and keep ship for a few weeks." 

"All right, sir," I answered, "if all is well at home, I 
will be glad to do it." 

All hands were paid off before noon, and had quit the 
ship, excepting the first mate and myself. Mr. Brown 
remained by the "Two Sisters" until the cargo was dis- 
charged. I saw Bob and the cook once, after that day, 
but I never again met any member of the crews we had 
had during the whole three years. 

In the afternoon a lady relative of Mrs. Benjamin came 
on board and took charge of her things, and they were 
all taken ashore. The lady asked me many questions of 
the voyage and about Mrs. Benjamin. "Has Mrs. Ben- 
jamin gone to Setauket, ma'am?" I asked. 

"No, Jack, she is at a friend's house a few miles out of 
the city, and will remain there for a few days before going 
to her own home. She is very weak at present," said 
the lady. 



550 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Tell her, ma'am, I trust that she will soon be much 
better, that the 'Two Sisters' seems likes a different vessel 
without her mistress," I replied. 

"Jack," said Mr. Brown, that evening, after a night 
watchman had been duly installed. "I am going over to 
Jersey City to meet a friend, and if you like, you may 
coast along with me as far as Broadway." 

"All right, sir," I answered, and in a few minutes we 
were under way heading for the great thoroughfare of 
the metropolis. 

"Now, Jack, keep your ears and your eyes open," said 
the mate, "so that you can run back to the ship in the 
same channel." 

"Aye, aye, sir, I can make the ship all right," I an- 
swered, with much confidence. 

As we sailed on, Mr. Brown pointed out the different 
points of interest, and, after reaching Broadway, he or- 
dered me to wear ship and stand for Catherine Ferry. 

"Good night, Jack/' he said, "I'll be aboard the first 
thing in the morning." "So long, sir," I answered. 

I wore ship as I was ordered; but as all the surround- 
ings were bright and gay I hove to for awhile. "Where 
are we at?" I ventured to ask a chap who had just hailed 
me. The strang-er appeared to be all right, but his rig 
looked suspicious. 

"Why, we are on the Bowery, young fellow, where are 
you from?" he inquired blandly. "From China," I re- 
plied. 

"Ha, ha, I thought you were a sailor boy, brave fel- 
low," he said, endeavoring to flatter me, "come along with 
me, my hearty, and Til show you some of the sights." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 551 

"I'm not out for a lark, tonight," I answered firmly. 

Immediately he revealed his cloven foot: "Yese bet- 
ter git out of this place thin, I'm tellin' ye," he ejaculated, 
as he kept off. I then filled away and stood off and on, 
under lower sails, locating myself now and then. 

As there were so many gallant crafts in sight and so 
much to attract my attention; before I knew it, it was 
eight bells, midnight. I then made all sail and kept away 
for my anchorage. I soon discovered that I was off my 
soundings. Then I hailed an officer. 

"I have lost my reckoning, sir, where am I at?" I asked. 

"Where are you bound?" he inquired. "Catherine 
Ferry, sir," I replied. 

"Catherine Ferry, eh," he said. "Well, you keep off 
and run down four blocks, then starboard your helm, and 
go ahead four blocks more, which will lead you to the 
street you're looking for. Then port your wheel and run 
for the ferry." 

"Aye, aye, sir," I answered, and proceeded. 

As the weather began to thicken up and the wind in- 
creased to a gale, I soon became all mixed with my course 
and distance. I continued carrying sail, however, but 
couldn't make out anything except tall buildings and long 
streets. After sailing on and on for about two hours I 
became disabled and taking- in all sail I came to anchor 
on somebody's front steps. As I was very weary I turned 
in, as it were, and soon fell asleep. It must have been 
about five A. M. when I was rudely awakened by two 
policemen. 

"Hello, what are you doing here ? Get up out of this." 
"I am lost, sir," I stammered, soon as I could pull my- 
self together. 



552 Voyage of "The Two Sisters." 

"Ye's lost are ye, faith, it's the loikes of yese that wese 
after lookin' for," said one of the cops. 

After searching me and finding nothing suspicious, the 
o.ther officer questioned me. "Where do you belong, and 
what are you doing up here, and where are you trying 
to get to?" 

"I belong to the clipper-bark 'Two Sisters,' just in 
from China, sir, we docked near Catherine Ferry yester- 
day morning, and I am trying to find my ship," I replied. 

"He isn't one of the toughs that we are looking for, 
Pat," said the officer. "His language, dress, and his 
whole make-up proves that fact. Come along with me, 
young fellow, I'll put you in the right channel." 

So I got under way, and after making about a quarter 
of a mile my pilot hailed one of the tenders belonging to 
the belt line, showing a red light. "Let this chap off at 
Catherine Slip," ordered the cop, as I boarded the craft. 

"All right, sir," answered the officer in charge, and 
pulled the signal to go ahead. My capital consisted of 
five cents, which, for the time being had been deposited 
between my teeth. When the purser came round for my 
passage money it was so defaced that he would not ac- 
cept it. As he picked me up in distress, however, I was 
carried to my destination. Sure enough, there was the 
"Two Sisters" looming up in the darkness, truly she ap- 
peared like home to me. 

"Hello, Jack, out all night, eh?" said the watchman 
as I stepped on deck. 

"Got lost, sir," I replied, endeavoring. to explain. 

"Got lost, eh," he ejaculated, "tell that to the marines." 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 553 

I made him no answer, but hastened to my berth, re- 
calHng the old saying, "Where ignorance is bHss, 'tis folly 
to be wise." I turned out a little before seven, after a 
refreshing nap. 

Mr. Brown came on board and also the stevedores : As 
the hatches had been previously surveyed, the work of 
discharging began at once. While Mr. Brown was tak- 
ing account of cargo, I acted as substitute for second 
mate, having charge of the cabin and looking out for 
everything about decks. I said nothing about my ex- 
perience of the previous night, and as the watchman did 
not consider it any of his business he did not mention it, 
to my great satisfaction. 

The following day being Saturday, was a great day 
for me and the loved ones at home. I had heard old tars 
remark that going into port, especially home port, was 
the brightest spot in a sailor's career. "And here I am," 
I thought, "not only in a home port, but actually on the 
way to my own home." I boarded the steamer "Ocean 
Wave," at nine A. M., and in a few minutes we were 
steaming up the East River for Long Island Sound. Af- 
ter passing some very picturesque and beautiful scenery 
on either side, we reached Fort Schuyler, which we 
passed on our port hand, and stood for the entrance to 
the sound, between Execution Rock and Sands Point, 
which we rounded on our starboard hand. 

My home lay about thirty-eight miles to the eastward, 
on the Long Island shore, a little to the east of Old Eield 
Point. It was a bright day, and the sound was as calm 
and smooth as a sea of glass. Some of the passengers 
thought it was altogether too smooth, some rough water, 
they argued, would make the trip more interesting. 



554 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/' 

"Everything is so quiet and monotonous," exclaimed a 
dandy-looking chap who was lounging about the prome- 
nade deck in company with a young lady, apparently his 
sweetheart. Wishing to impart some nautical informa- 
tion to the young couple I rounded up alongside of them. 

"Excuse me, sir," I said apologetically, 'T have just 
arrived from China, and can stand as much rough water 
as anyone on board, but the smoother it is the better for 
this craft, sir, and for all concerned, and as we are mak- 
ing the very best time possible toward our destination, I 
think that we had better let well enough alone." 

They did not appear to be in any special need of my 
experience, however, or my company, as they were other- 
wise engaged. I then kept off and went down into the 
main saloon. I met there several ladies and gentlemen 
who knew me, but I did not recognize any of them until 
they made themselves known. They gathered about me 
and asked all manner of questions about my voyage. We 
had a pleasant and enjoyable trip down the sound, and 
in due time we made the first landing at a little village 
about four miles west of my home. 

Just before reaching the landing the channel became 
very narrow and the tide was running flood very swiftly. 
The skipper handled his craft very skilfully, however, 
and tied up to the wharf as easily as you would lead a 
horse to the hitching post. 

Now, it so happened that my brother anticipated my 
arrival that day. He, therefore, procured a conveyance 
and proceeded to the landing to meet me. Of course, I 
was not looking for him, as I did not intend to land there. 

While I was watching the crew handling freight I no- 
ticed a young man who came on board, apparently in 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 555 

search of some one; in a few moments I recognized my 
brother. After greeting each other, we at once headed 
for home. Leaving the village, our road led through 
thick woods for about two miles. It all appeared very 
beautiful to me. My brother and I, in the meantime, 
conversed rapidly. He was anxious to hear about China, 
Japan, volcanoes, typhoons, pirates, whales, flying fish 
and water spouts, all at once. As we journeyed on, the 
scenery became more and more familiar, and as we neared 
our home I quit talking and just simply looked about me. 

I shall never forget the expression of joy on my moth- 
er's face as she met me that day at the front door of our 
home. Time and anxious care had left a few wrinkles 
upon her brow, but in appearance and affection she was 
the very same mother who bade me farewell off Sandy 
Hook three years previously. All four of us children had 
grown so fast we would have hardly known each other, if 
we had met on the street. Perhaps the most eventful 
time of my life was the day thatT left home for the first 
time, and the most joyful day in all my life's history 
was when I returned. It was indeed a glad meeting for 
us all. They were very much pleased, especially my sis- 
ters, with the curios, fancy boxes and other things which 
I brought them. 

I repeated to my mother and sisters all that I had told 
my brother about the voyage, and added much more. As 
my friends and neighbors began to call, I was kept busy 
answering questions. Amid all the joy and gladness of 
this scene, some relatives and neighbors were missing; 
they had passed on to the land which is brighter than day. 
The time passed rapidly, and on the following Mondav 
I returned to New York to keep ship for a time. 



556 Voyage of ''The Two Sisters/' 

"Hello, Jack, glad to have you back again, how 
is everything at home?" asked Mt. Brown, as I boarded 
the "Two Sisters." 

"I found all my folks well, sir, and I had a pleasant 
visit." I then told him all about it. 

"Why, Jack, that makes me feel homesick," said the 
mate, "but never mind, I've found a ship for Liverpool, 
and as soon as the 'Two Sisters' is discharged Tm off for 
jolly old England." 

That afternoon the captain came on board for a few 
minutes. He reported that Mrs. Benjamin had not im- 
proved in health; that the removal from the ship to the 
comfortable home of her relative was not as beneficial 
as had been anticipated. 

We finished discharging the afternoon of the fourth 
day of October, after which the "Two Sisters" was towed 
to a wharf at Hunter's Point. Mr. Brown then packed 
up his luggage, bade me farewell, and quit the ship. A 
strange sensation came over me that evening, when I 
fully realized that I was alone, especially as I recalled 
the sunshine and shadows, the storms and strife, and the 
very many scenes enacted on board during the voyage. 
It is needless to say that I was very lonesome. On the 
next day the brig "Yankee Blade," which belonged to 
the same company as the "Two Sisters" was lied up 
alongside. There was a young chap like myself who was 
keeping ship aboard the brig. We were company for 
each other, and spent most of our time spinning yarns 
about our experiences. On Monday, the seventh, the 
captain came on board with several friends to look about 
the ship. "How is Mrs. Benjamin, sir?" I inquired. 



A Cabin Boy's Story. 557 

"Not any better, Jack," he answered discouragingly. 
"I fear that she will never reach Setauket alive." 

"Mrs. Benjamin is bound for a brighter habitation 
than any earthly home," I ventured to suggest. 

"You're right, Jack, and she will soon be there," he 
answered. 

"Please remember me to her, sir, and say that every- 
thing is all right on board the ship." 

After giving me some orders about fenders, he and his 
friends departed. The "Yankee Blade" was towed away 
on the ninth and the "Two Sisters" and I were alone 
again. 

On Friday morning, the eleventh of October, 1861, 
eighteen days after our arrival, a messenger came on 
board leaving a note from the captain, stating that Mrs. 
Benjamin had passed on to her heavenly home on the 
tenth, at six P. M. Her remains would be taken to Se- 
tauket on the twelfth, where the last sad rites would be 
solemnized on the thirteenth. I was ordered to dress the 
ship in mourning for the following three days. I had an- 
ticipated that the sad event would soon happen, yet it 
came suddenly, like the outburst of a hurricane. After 
setting the colors at half mast there was very little for 
me to do save to read and meditate. 

I thought of the departed one, of her holy ambitions 
and desires to do good which had been limited, from the 
human standpoint, because of physical weakness. Now 
that her spirit had been clothed upon with everlasting 
strength, the sphere of her activities was boundless, far 
beyond the imagination of any finite being. I was sure 
that our dear friend had received her new name, ex- 
pressive of the Savior's love, and had heard Him say, 



558 Voyage of "The Two Sisters/^ 

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast 
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler 
over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 

Many years have passed away 
Since they moored her frail bark 
In the quiet churchyard on the green; 
But the memorj^ of her counsel, 
Shed's a light across my path, 
Daily calling me to Heaven, 
Even from these earthly scenes. 
When my vo3'ag:e here is ended, 
And I reach the eternal shore, 
I shall greet her at the landing, 
To go out again no more. 

The End, 



JAf^ 2 Wd^ 



